Description
Located half a kilometer from Mértola, in Alentejo, Monte de Santo António is a suis generis property, and its owner is a doctor with expertise in the areas of biological medicine, orthomolecular medicine, functional clinical nutrition and anti-aging medicine. With this training and experience, it is no surprise that he crossed nature with his scientific knowledge and adopted sustainable agriculture based on organic and biodynamic production on his lands. Furthermore, on its property it explores concepts of geobiology, radiesthesia, magnotherapy, food and environmental health and energy medicine, with the aim of preserving health and well-being. Of the twelve hectares of land, three are vineyards. After carrying out an in-depth soil analysis, he began by planting Alicante Bouschet, Touriga Nacional, Syrah and Moscatel Roxo. Later, the Trincadeira and Aragonês varieties followed. The vineyards, located on shale-clay soils, in the middle of the Guadiana Valley Natural Park, have a south-east orientation and are irrigated by the drop-by-drop system with alkaline groundwater, subjected to natural processes of polarization and azonization, in order to allocate a three-dimensional, negatively magnetized molecular structure to water, which makes it easier to assimilate, improving the metabolism of the vines and the entire flora: «It makes all the difference in the final result», guarantees the producer. On the other hand, «the soil is found under the pyrite belt of the lower Alentejo, which runs from Aljustrel to Mina de São Domingos, rich in copper, gold and silver, whose composition prevents diseases in the vineyard». In the energy area, Monte de Santo António also stands out. Here there is an electricity production system using solar energy, sold to EDP for amortization of the energy consumed and a solar electrical production of 30 KW on a self-consumption basis. The current contract with EDP is for a three-phase two-hour meter and self-production, which allows water to be collected and irrigated during the day with almost total savings. Frederick Von S wines Wine production is carried out completely without pesticides, herbicides or any other fertilizer or synthetic products, and the harvest is carried out in the early hours of the morning, between 5am and 11am, with the grapes transported in 15kg boxes (to avoid crushing) to the Santa Vitória winery, in Beja, where it is vinified under the guidance of winemaker Patrícia Peixoto. «Everything is done with the greatest detail so that we can produce a wine of great quality». In addition to wines, it also produces organic liqueurs, chickens and eggs, honey and olive oil. The brand Frederick von S (Count and Duke of Schönberg and 1st Count of Mértola), is due to a German general who helped the Portuguese win the Battle of Montes Claros, the last step in the Portuguese Restoration War between Portugal and Spain, which made it possible for our country to return to sovereignty. Due to his bravery and services rendered to the country, D. Afonso VI of Portugal rewarded him with the title of Count of Mértola, and was given a property in the municipality of Mértola and a lifetime pension. This fair tribute began with the regional Alentejo red wine Frederick von S, launched for the first time in 2004, made with the Alicante Bouschet, Touriga Nacional and Syrah grape varieties; and was later extended to another wine, also red, Frederick von S Reserva, launched for the first time in 2015 and made with Trincadeira and Aragonês. The Moscatel Roxo grape variety existing on the property gives rise to a rosé and a liqueur, which the producer produces in very limited editions. In the case of reds, the Reserva is clearly more complex and dense than the regional, made with the best batches of wine, aged in French oak barrels for three years and two more in the bottle. These bottles are also special, waterproofed with premium corks and manually placed beeswax seal. Distributed only in selected restaurants and wine stores, these are special wines, made by someone who intends to do well and always better.
