The calm, confident and introspective Vasco Croft took over his mother’s semi-abandoned 17th century family estate in 2003 in the Lima Valley in the north of Vinho Verde. Casal do Paço has the soul of an old Quinta, and was the starting point of Aphros. It spreads over nearly 20 hectares of land and forests, six of which are vineyards and four of chestnuts orchards. At its centre stands a granite 16th century 2-storey manor house complete with chapel. The wine cellar on the first floor dates back to the origin of the house.

Vasco assembled a team of consultants and began conversion to biodynamics in 2006, and today is regarded as one of the pioneering biodynamic vintners in Portugal.