We are undeniably committed to adapt to the natural constraints, namely in what concerns the appropriation of the physical space, and the maintenance of the natural alchemical process of wine production.
Our first responsibility as wine producers encompasses in the ability to observe Nature and to try to approach the answer which continually requires.
In the natural surroundings where Casa D'Almear is located, the great landscape reference is the Pateira de Fermentelos, considered the largest Natural Lagoon of the Iberian Peninsula.
The Pateira de Fermentelos, appears as an enlargement of the Rio Cértima at its confluence with the Rio Águeda, and it has a very high impact on the regulation of the hydrological cycles of the dendritic network of watercourses that make up the basin to which it belongs.
Its high relevance for nature conservation and its importance as a wetland made it possible to be included in the Rede Natura 2000 as a ZPE (PTZPE 0004) and coincidentally, as an integral part of the SIC of the Ria de Aveiro (PTCON0061).
Pateira and its surroundings stand out in terms of fauna diversity due to the presence of a large number of resident and migratory birdlife species.
Several species with legal protection status such as, the Anas Platyrhynchos (duck), Ixobrychus Minutus (garçote), Ardea Purpurea (red heron), Circus Aeruginosus (eagle-sapeira), Milvus Migrans (black kite), among others.
As is natural in a wetland of this size, several species of the ichthyofauna, some with Community Protection Status, such as Chondostroma Lusitanicum, Rutilus Macrolepidotus, Barbus Bocagei, Chondostroma Polylepis (Annex II and Annex V Habitats Directive).
In terms of its floristic richness, the presence of at least two species of Community Interest should be mentioned: Ruscus Aculeatus (gilbardeira) (Annex BV of the Habitats Directive) and Marsilea Quadrifolia (four leaf clover), fetus of but very rare in our country (Annex B-II and Annex B-IV of the Habitats Directive).
The dominant vegetation is marshland with mono-stratified or pauciostratified communities of mega-orbs (one or more strata of large plants), such as Typhas sp., Scirpoides sp., Juncus sp., which play a fundamental role as habitat for food and refuge, as well as breeding and nesting of the present fauna.
The vegetation of the shrub and arboreal strata corresponds to traces of forests and forests along the banks of water bodies, with species such as Alnus Glutinosa (alder), Populus Nigra (black poplar), Salix Alba (white willow), Salix Atrocinerea (black spruce), Populus Alba (white poplar), Fraxinus Angustifolia (ash), Sambucus Nigra (Elderberry), among others.
In this unique natural environment, there are extraordinary 'Auxiliaries of the Vineyard' and of the Casa D'Almear Vine such as, bees, ladybugs, lace, antocoridae, syphidians, cecidomids, tachyceans, heminoptera, among others.
With the Vine also cohabitate consorts of Subterranium Clovers among other Trifolium. The existing and introduced clover plant species help to fix nitrogen and organic matter in the soil, with great benefits to the Vine.
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obs. Notes in chapter ‘Classic Vineyards’ and ‘Natural Landscape’ by special explanation of Eng.ª Dina Camarinha.