Vineyard and winemaking
Tonnix Tinto 2023 is produced at Quinta de la Rosa near Pinhão in the Douro's Cima Corgo. The estate's steep, schist-rich vineyards rise from the river to around 500 metres, with varied exposures helping the grapes retain freshness despite the region's summer heat. The blend comprises Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz.
The grapes are fermented and the wine matures in stainless-steel vats, preserving a fresh, fruit-led character without oak influence. The 2023 combines ripe red fruit, lively acidity and light, youthful tannins, showing a more approachable side of the Douro.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Bright, youthful ruby with deep purple tones and a clear, concentrated core.
Nose
Elegant and fresh, with expressive red-fruit aromas.
Palate
Generous ripe fruit is balanced by fresh acidity and light, youthful tannins. The wine has a supple, approachable texture and a clean, fruit-led finish, making it a versatile partner at the table and a lighter expression of the Douro's traditional red varieties.
Food pairing
Its combination of ripe fruit, fresh acidity and supple tannins makes this particularly versatile at the table. Try it with chargrilled Iberico pork, piri-piri chicken, duck breast with cherry or plum, grilled lamb skewers with herbs, or Portuguese-style pork and clams. The freshness also makes it a surprisingly good partner for grilled octopus with smoked paprika, connecting naturally with the seafood-focused cooking associated with the Tonnix project.
Background story
Tonnix was created through the collaboration between chefs Mitch Tonks and Mark Hix and Quinta de la Rosa, with the name itself combining the two chefs' surnames. The wines were developed specifically for their restaurants and reflect their shared enthusiasm for Portuguese food and wine. The project remains closely associated with the restaurants of both chefs, with Tonnix wines appearing alongside their food-focused programmes.
Quinta de la Rosa is a family-owned estate close to Pinhão in the Cima Corgo, with vineyards planted across the steep schist slopes of the Douro. The estate has a long-established focus on producing both Port and high-quality dry wines, with its red vineyards planted predominantly to traditional Douro varieties including Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca.
The 2023 Tonnix Tinto is the more youthful, immediately approachable side of the collaboration: a Douro red built around vibrant dark fruit, floral character and freshness rather than excessive weight, making it particularly well suited to food and generous restaurant-style serving.
