History

Hello, my name is Élio Silva, I am 45 years old, and I am the owner of Quinta do Pinheiro.

This property has been in my family’s hands since the time of my great-grandparents, dating back to the late 19th century.

Initially, the property mainly produced cereal, wine, and cork. Over time, cereal cultivation gradually gave way to vineyards and almond orchards.

Around 50 years ago, my grandfather, Abel de Deus Silva, planted what is still considered one of the most beautiful olive groves in the municipality of Vila Flôr. At that time, the olive grove was planted on approximately 6ha of vineyards, as part of a mixed farming project aimed at maximizing land use.

Thus, vineyards, almond orchards, and olive groves became the three main pillars of production until I took over in December 1993 through an inheritance settlement from my father. As a result of a long legal dispute between my father and his brother, I found an abandoned estate! My academic background in Business Administration and Management, along with my professional experience in industrial sectors such as textiles and footwear, did not provide much help in reviving an agricultural project...

Wine or Olive Oil?

But my passion for the Douro and the land prevailed! I was immediately forced to make a strategic decision: wine or olive oil? (since I quickly realized that almond production was financially unfeasible). Both options were fascinating... I initially produced both, even creating a wine brand, but I soon realized that I lacked the necessary scale, technology, and infrastructure to establish my brand in such a competitive market as the wine industry.

Thus, the fate of Quinta do Pinheiro was set. All the vineyards within the olive grove were removed and replaced with irrigated olive groves.

Brand Registration

In the year 2000, I created the brand "Quinta do Pinheiro" Extra Virgin Olive Oil, based on the olive grove my grandfather planted, in one of the world’s best regions in terms of soil and climate characteristics for this type of cultivation.

Produced from a unique blend of olive varieties, including Cordovil, Verdeal Transmontana, Cobrançosa, Madural, and Redondal, and harvested in excellent phytosanitary conditions at the time of processing, "Quinta do Pinheiro" olive oil is now found in some of the finest restaurants and gourmet establishments, mainly in northern Portugal and various European countries.

But Quinta do Pinheiro did not stop there. In an effort to combine tourism with agriculture, we began construction in 2001 on a tourist residence, which since 2004 has provided a space for leisure and relaxation while allowing visitors to taste, among other things, some of the best olive oils in the world.

Brand Growth

In 2006, due to a European regulation requiring olive oil to be served in tamper-proof bottles at the table, the need to produce vinegar arose to complement the condiment set. This led to the creation of the brands "Quinta do Pinheiro" Red Wine Vinegar and "Quinta do Pinheiro" White Wine Vinegar.

Also in 2006, the transformation of approximately 4ha of old almond orchards into olive groves began and was completed in February of the current year, adding another 1,430 trees to the estate.

I do not hide the fact that I do not solely market my own production. From the beginning, I needed to establish partnerships with other producers and mills to meet my customers' demands. This experience turned me into a taster of this precious nectar, and today, I am often invited by various institutions to speak about olive oil production and share my expertise as a taster in tasting panels.

With that, I bid farewell, making myself available to those who, for any reason related to olive oil, may find it interesting and worthwhile to get to know me.

Élio Silva