Winery Cristiano Van Zeller

A member of a family active in the Douro wine trade since the 17th century, Cristiano van Zeller worked in several Douro ventures and in 1996 founded Quinta Vale D. Maria together with Joana Lemos. Over time he has led and relaunched the Van Zellers & Co. brand, is among the founders of the CV project, and took part in founding the 'Douro Boys' group to promote Douro DOC wines. In 2017 the Quinta Vale D. Maria estate was sold to Aveleda, with Cristiano remaining involved in the estate's activities and as a reference figure in the region.

Focused on showcasing the Douro territory through wines that reflect individual parcels and older vines: a combination of traditional methods and careful grape selection to produce both dry Douro DOC wines and fortified Port wines, with artisanal care in the vineyard and cellar.

Douro Valley — in particular the Rio Torto area and the area around Pinhão / São João da Pesqueira, where the vineyards and estates associated with its projects are located.

The wine Vinha da Francisca is cited as one of the winery’s most awarded wines, having received recognition in international publications and from specialist juries.