The complex terroir of the Quinta, with its soil variations, contributes to the originality of the wines.

In Monte Meão the river Douro describes one of the most striking and exotic windings of its route. It is on the upstream side of the meander that we will find the gentlest slopes of Vale Meão lands and where the Quinta of the same name is situated, along the left bank of the Douro.

The important Fault of Vilariça crosses Vale Meão lands, where it draws a straight border separating the granitic soil that covers the steep hillsides of Monte Meão – to West - from a patch of precious schist soil which extends from there to the Douro river. This schistous soil is partially surmounted by a discontinuous layer of ancient alluvial soil composed of thick rounded stones. Occasionally, on the lower areas more to the north, finer alluvial sands also appear.

These three terrains, schist, granite and alluvial, gave rise through centuries of agricultural labour to three agricultural soils. Each one has different characteristics which require different cultivation methods and carefully selected grape varieties for optimum results. The fruits of these soils acquire distinct and noble qualities which permit unique combinations in wines of individuality and laureate richness of characteristics.

The different wine grape varieties of the Quinta do Vale Meão contribute to the quality and originality of their wines.

From 1971, a significant conversion of the vineyard was carried out, partly as a result of the expropriation of the lands submerged by the Valeira dam. The new vineyards were planted in fields with separate grape varieties, with the Touriga Nacional, a caste hitherto almost abandoned in the Douro, being favored for its small productivity and difficulty of cultivation, but which proved to be particularly well suited to the soil- climatic conditions of the Upper Douro, contributing greatly to the quality and originality of Quinta's wines. 
 

The Quinta do Vale Meão has about 98 hectares of vineyards, with the following vineyards planted in separate blocks: