Of Greek origin, the name Esteva comes from the word ‘ciste’, which means basket (cesto in Portuguese). The Esteva's name was inspired by its fruits, which grow as rounded capsules containing various compartments. But more than its fruits, it is the Esteva's white-petalled flowers and distinctive scent that make this plant a hallmark of the Douro flora. Its leaves exude an aromatic resin, known as labdanum, which is frequently used in the perfume industry. This is the floral fragrance that is often found in many tasting notes for Douro wines.
Our most avid followers will recall the discreet white-petalled flower that has always been present in our back labels. That's it: The Esteva flower! It is for not the abundance of this famous shrub on the grounds of Quinta do Vallado that we have given it a captive place in our products. On the contrary, it is actually quite rare to come across this flower as we hike the ups and downs of the Quinta. The Esteva is symbolic for its unique virtues, which we see mirrored in our own characteristics: its persistence, endurance and resilience make it perfectly adapted to the Douro terrain, climate and reversals of fortune. Its fragrance and dazzling white petals never cease to amaze us. The Esteva leaves no one indifferent - and this is the impact we seek to instil into our wines.
And there is another curious fact that binds us to this plant: because of its adaptiveness and fast growth, the Esteva has been used to foster the development of ecosystems in less fertile land. When it grows, so does everything else. This is how we see ourselves in the Douro and this is the strategy we want to deploy through initiatives such as those we promote with the Douro Boys.
Neither the lack of water nor the burning temperatures keep this shrub from flourishing and enriching the scenery of the Douro Valley. With little, a lot. In adversity we thrive. We grow and live in the same manner, us and the Esteva. It would be strange if it were any other way, after all, we've been sharing the Douro Valley for over 300 years.
