Quinta da Touriga is the culmination of a lifelong dream. José António Castro Ramos Pinto Rosas dedicated over 50 years of his life to wine growing in the Douro Valley. He was the CEO of Ramos Pinto where he led the charge at Quinta de Ervamoira, a pioneering modern estate. Ervamoira was the first estate in the Duoro to plant vertically on slopes rather than on horizontal terraces. It was also the first estate to plant by block, pairing individual grape varieties to the most suitable terroir. When Ramos Pinto was sold to Roederer in the early 1990's, José António, then 72 years old, seized the opportunity to plant his ideal vineyard and Quinta da Touriga was born.

After a detailed study of the region using the highly detailed topographical maps José António settled on a site high in the Douro Superior and with his son Jorge Rosas started the vineyards from scratch. Planting mostly Touriga Nacional with a small percentage of Tinta Roriz Touriga Franca and other indigenous grapes they implemented many of the philosophies José António had developed at Quinta de Ervamoira. In the years since planting the roots of the vines have spread deep into the poor "xisto" (slate) soils seeking minerals and water allowing the estate to be completely dry farmed. These deep roots enable the vines ability to survive the heat of the region and provide structure, complexity, and minerality, and tremendous capacity for aging.