In 1978 Fonseca acquired the Quinta do Panascal, a property located in the spectacularly beautiful Tavora Valley, also in the Cima Corgo to the south of the Douro River. At present, 67 of its 97 acres are planted, supporting 114,800 vines which produce 860 hectolitres of must annually. Adjacent vineyards produce another 196 hectolitres. New plantings at Panascal continue to focus principally on Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa and Tinta Roriz. Quinta do Panascal is now firmly based as the backbone to the famous Fonseca vintages. Creating wines of great weight, dimension and complexity that are sought after by wine connoisseurs around the world. The Fonseca Viticultural team developed the first biological vines in the Douro valley, in a designated region of Quinta do Panascal. Using recognised viticultural methods, the team has been able to refine these techniques, over several years, for growing quality biological vines in the Douro valley. A lot of work at Quinta do Panascal is focused on 'batch' planting of the top five of the six varietals. Batch planting affords not only the advantage of harvesting the varieties efficiently at optimum maturity and vinifying them separately, but also naturally coincides with planting each varietal in microclimates and exposures best suited to it. The results have been seen in the quality of Port wine being vinified from this vineyard. Panascal is now, without contention, one of the crown jewels of the Douro Valley.