For over 40 years Sir Cliff Richard has been a lover of the Algarve.  So much so that he decided to plant a vineyard at his property Quinta do Moinho, which has gone on to gain a prominent reputation as an excellent vineyard.
 
Located a few kilometres northwest of Albufeira, the Adega do Cantor or ‘Winery of the Singer’ was built to produce wine, principally the Vida Nova range from three surrounding Quintas; Quinta do Moinho, Quinta do Miradouro and Vale do Sobreiro.  The ambition of the winery was to produce the highest quality wines that the region can offer using a combination of traditional and innovative modern winemaking techniques. 
 
All aspects of the viticulture and wine producing process on the estate has been overseen by consultant winemaker David Baverstock who produces at Herdade de Esporao in the Alentejo and was the 1999 Portuguese winemaker of the year.  The Cellar Door shop sells the full range of Vida Nova wines as well as a variety of wine merchandise and souvenirs.
 
Undertake an exclusive tour of the vineyards and winery at Quinta do Miradouro and taste Sir Cliff Richard's Vida Nova, which is vinified, matured and bottled on the estate.  The plantings consist of 3.5 Ha of Syrah or Shiraz, a native of the Rhône valley in France; 2.5 Ha of Aragonês, indigenous to the Iberian peninsula and known as Tempranillo in Spain; 1.4 Ha of Trincadeira, native to southern Portugal; and 0.5 Ha of Mourvèdre again from southern France.  Moinho was established using modern viticultural principles including canopy management, a vertical shoot positioning training system and drip irrigation.  The vines quickly established themselves and the result is a thriving and healthy vineyard.
 
Cliff Richard Vida Nova Wine Sir Cliff is very much involved in producing the wine.  When in Portugal he is often seen getting his hands dirty in the vineyard or indeed his feet dirty in the winery!

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