The Quinta da Murta is a 27 acre wine estate, located 2.5 km away from Bucelas and approximately 20 km north of Lisbon. The property has 14.5 hectares of vineyards, producing red and white wines from DOC Bucelas Regional Estremadura. Francisco Castelo Branco, an engineer from Lisbon, planted a 10 hectare vineyard in 1988. He enlisted local help and gathered his first harvest in 1993 sold as grapes. The 1994 harvest was the first one bottled. The vine varietals cultivated on the domain are Arinto, Rabo de Ovelho and Touriga Nacional (No “international” varietals). They are planted at an altitude of 250m on the slopes of the River Boicao, benefiting from soil, exposure and microclimate with different features. Production now averages 45,000 bottles and Francisco has since planted a further 2.5 Ha of Arinto and a 1.5Ha plot of Touriga Nacional.