Sold Out
Encosta da Quinta

Humus Curtimenta 2018

Price: $34.95
Enter your email address below to be notified when this product is back in stock.
Tasting notes

Curtimenta takes an unusual approach: Touriga Nacional juice macerates on white grape skins, not its own, producing a wine with tannin structure and orange-wine texture but without the weight of a red. Three months on skins in amphora gives it dried citrus, toasted almond, and grip, while Atlantic-influenced acidity keeps everything fresh and precise.

BodyFruitTanninAcidity
Taste profile
Dried ApricotOrange PeelToasted AlmondWhite Peach
  • Style: Dry orange wine; amber-hued; tannic and citrusy with toasted almond finish; no added sulfites
  • Grapes & Terroir: Touriga Nacional juice + Arinto, Fernão Pires, Sauvignon Blanc skins; certified organic since 2007; clay-limestone soils, Alvorninha, Óbidos DOC
  • Winemaking: 3-month skin maceration in clay amphora; spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts; 9 months in 225L chestnut barrels; unfined, unfiltered, no added sulfites
  • Serving: Serve at 55-58°F; no decanting needed; can benefit from a few minutes in glass
  • Pairing: Grilled mackerel, sardines, aged sheep's milk cheese, cured meats, roasted chicken
  • Similar To: For fans of Georgian amber wines and skin-contact Pinot Gris who want Atlantic freshness

Humus Curtimenta is an orange wine from Encosta da Quinta, a certified organic estate in Alvorninha within the Óbidos DOC, about 20km from the Atlantic coast in the Lisboa wine region. The blend is built around direct-press Touriga Nacional juice, which macerates on the skins of Arinto, Fernão Pires, and Sauvignon Blanc for three months in clay amphora. Spontaneous fermentation proceeds with native yeasts, with no additions at any stage.

After skin contact, the wine ages for nine months in 225-liter chestnut barrels before being bottled unfined, unfiltered, and without added sulfites. The result is an amber-hued wine with a distinctive tannic grip from the extended maceration, alongside the brightness and acidity characteristic of this cool Atlantic-influenced terroir.

The 2018 vintage shows aromas of tropical fruit, dried apricot, and orange peel, with floral and herbal notes on the nose. The palate is lively and dry, with firm but approachable tannins and a finish of toasted almond and citrus pith. The chestnut aging adds a subtle nuttiness without obscuring the wine's fresh, earthy character.

The wine's tannic grip and acidity make it well-suited to fatty, rich dishes: think grilled mackerel or sardines, aged sheep's milk cheese, or roasted chicken with herbs. It can also stand up to cured meats and charcuterie boards. Serve lightly chilled at around 55-58°F.

Wine details

Dry/Sweet:, Dry
Wine Type:, Orange Wine
Wine Style:, Medium Body
Grapes:, Touriga Nacional, Arinto, Fernão Pires, Sauvignon Blanc
Farming:, Organic
Vintage:, 2018
Alcohol:, 12%
Country:, Portugal
Region:, Óbidos
Appellation:, Vinho Regional Lisboa
Bottle Size:, 750ml
Sugar Level:, Zero Added Sugar

We will process and ship your order in 2-3 business days, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking as soon as the Carrier scans the shipping label.

Ground shipping time depends on location, here's a breakdown:

West Coast: 1-2 business days
Midwest: 3-4 business days
East Coast: 5 business days

Process time is not shipping time. Shipping time starts from the days successive to the day of shipping, after the order has been processed.

See here our shipping policy.


Important Compliance Requirements

FedEx and other carriers we might occasionally use can only deliver wine to customers who are 21 years or older. Someone must be at the address to receive the package, carriers don't just drop a package and leave. They must ensure the person receiving the wine is 21 or older.


Re-shipping a Package

If a package is returned to us after three failed delivery attempts, we can only re-ship the wine upon payment of a re-shipping fee, to be determined based on the shipping address and number of bottles. Shipping wine is extremely expensive. We are sorry about this, but we have no other choice. Please make sure there's always someone at the address you enter as your shipping address.

If you'd like to receive a refund for a package that was returned to us after FedEx made three delivery attempts, we can do that but we must keep a $20 refund fee; FedEx charges us a lot of money for returns, unfortunately, I can't stress this enough.


Re-routing a Package

If you'd like to reroute a package after it's been shipped, we can do so for a $20 re-routing fee. We cannot re-route a package across state borders. For any change of address, please contact us as soon as possible, ideally within 1-2 days from placing the order or we cannot guarantee we'll be able to reroute or change your order's shipping address.


Canceling an Order

If you'd like to cancel an order after it's been shipped, we can do so upon payment of a small cancellation fee – the amount depends on the size of the order. Carriers charge us a lot of money to recall a package en-route.


Heat/Frost damage

We are not responsible for heat- or frost-related issues. We offer ice-packs upon request. Please let us know if you think that there could be heat-related issues. If we don't hear anything from you regarding weather issues before an order is shipped, or if you don't request a hold due to the weather, we are not responsible for heat/frost damage.


Placed an order. What next?

1. You will receive an order confirmation email with your order summary.*

2. As soon as your order ships from the warehouse, usually within 2-3 business days, this applies to all shipping rates, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with your tracking information. 2DAY shipping refers to shipping time; we still need 2-3 business days to prepare an order. We need to pick and pack, QA, add printed collateral, and palletize the orders.

3. Please track your package using the tracking service.

4. The carrier will attempt delivery a maximum of 3 times. After 3 delivery attempts, your package will be sent back to our warehouse.**

*Please ensure your email address is correct; otherwise, you will not receive the order and shipping confirmation emails.

**If delivery is attempted 3 times without success, or if you fail to retrieve your package from the carrier depot by the stated deadline, the shipping fee will not be refunded to the customer.

Returns Policy

If you are not satisfied with your purchase, please contact us at (424) 414-2040 or via e-mail at hello@primalwine.com between 9 am and 5 pm Pacific Standard Time, Monday through Sunday, we would like to understand and try to solve your concerns. We can offer refunds only as store credit.

Producer profile

Encosta da Quinta

Encosta da Quinta, operating under the Humus label, is a family estate of about 20 hectares located in Alvorninha, near Óbidos. The property was originally acquired by Rodrigo Filipe's grandfather, and his father planted the first vineyard parcels on the slopes during the 1990s. Rodrigo Filipe took over winemaking in the early 2000s after a career as a civil engineer. He is self-taught, having learned through books, workshops, and direct experimentation rather than formal oenology training.

The estate farms nine hectares of vines on clay and limestone soils. Organic certification has been in place since 2007, verified by Sativa PT. Cover crops grow freely between vine rows to support soil biodiversity. The cool microclimate — roughly 20km from the Atlantic — maintains high humidity and consistent sea breezes, which preserve natural acidity and keep alcohol levels moderate, typically between 11-12.5% ABV.

Rodrigo works with native Portuguese varieties: Fernão Pires, Arinto, Touriga Nacional, Castelão, and occasionally Sauvignon Blanc. His winemaking approach involves spontaneous fermentation with ambient yeasts, vessel aging in amphora and old chestnut or oak barrels, and bottling without fining, filtration, or added sulfites. His first Humus wine was released in 2009, and the Curtimenta bottling represents his most distinctive skin-contact expression.

Wine region

Óbidos, Portugal

Óbidos is a Denominação de Origem Controlada (DOC) within the wider Lisboa wine region, situated roughly 80 kilometers north of Lisbon. The area sits at 150-200 meters above sea level between the Atlantic Ocean and the Serra dos Candeeiros mountain range. A gap in the hills funnels cold, wet westerlies off the Atlantic throughout the year, producing a predominantly maritime climate with cool temperatures, good airflow, and high summer humidity. This maritime influence slows ripening and preserves natural acidity in the grapes.

The main soil types in Óbidos are calcareous limestone with clay, which together with the cool climate produce a long growing season favorable to high-acid varieties. The DOC was elevated from IPR status in 2006. Permitted white varieties include Arinto, Fernão Pires, Vital, and Rabo de Ovelha; red varieties include Touriga Nacional, Castelão, and Tinta Miúda. The region is historically known for sparkling and light white wines, but producers like Encosta da Quinta are using its naturally high-acid fruit for extended-maceration orange and natural wines.

Frequently asked question

We will process and ship your order in 2-3 business days, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking as soon as the Carrier scans the shipping label.

Ground shipping time depends on location, here's a breakdown:

West Coast: 1-2 business days
Midwest: 3-4 business days
East Coast: 5 business days

Process time is not shipping time. Shipping time starts from the days successive to the day of shipping, after the order has been processed.

See here our shipping policy.

Signature on delivery is mandatory for wine deliveries. Please make sure someone is at the shipping address to sign for the package.

If applicable, please consider delivering the package to a business address to ensure someone is available to sign for the package.

We also have the option of delivering the package to a Carrier's store for pickup. Please reach out to us to coordinate.

Carrier will try to delivery a package up to three times before returning the package to us.

See here our shipping policy.

If you miss a delivery and a package gets returned to us we have two options:

1) Reship the package right away: due to the very high cost of shipping and returns, we must charge a re-shipping fee to be determined based on package size and shipping destination.

2) Consolidate the returned package with your next order: this option is free of charge and it's the most popular option.

See here our shipping policy.

This collection features our best selling natural wine from all around the world. It's the best place to start you natural wine journey! Browse one of the largest selections of natural wine available online in the United States.

Primal Wine Natural Wine Club is the best way to discover natural wine. Let us do the heavy-lifting, sit back, and relax. We will send you an ever-changing selection of natural wine made by top producers from around the world.

Our customers love Primal

I'm just copying and pasting from the hundreds messages we received, no pseudo reviews!
Erin C.

We love our membership so far and can't wait until our next shipment.

Jennifer B.

A note to say that we are loving the tasting notes sheet you’re sending!

James S.

I'm really happy to find Primal – your selections are terrific. 

Samuel M.

Love your company, always a great wine selection. 

Chelsea V.

I love what you guys do!

What Is | Primal Wine

What is natural wine?

Natural wine is a type of wine made in small batches from organic or biodynamic grapes with minimal intervention.
What Is Biodynamic Wine Info Cards | Primal Wine

What is Biodynamics?

Biodynamic wine is wine made from grapes farmed biodynamically. Biodynamic farming is a holistic approach.
What Is Organic Wine Info Cards | Primal Wine

What is organic wine?

Organic wine is made with grapes farmed organically. Organic farming is an alternative to conventional farming.
What Is Vegan Wine Info Cards | Primal Wine

What is vegan wine?

Vegan wine is wine made without using animal products during the fining phase of the clarification process.