QUINTA DA MARFENJA
WHERE THE PLACES WE COME FROM FIND A HOME
In the terraced hills of Portugal’s Douro Valley, we found a place that brought together our roots, our memories and a dream for the future. Quinta da Marfenja is our family vineyard and olive estate—and a story we are only beginning to tell.
MORE STORIES TO COME
OUR STORY
TWO HOMES. ONE NAME. A DREAM TAKING ROOT.
The name Marfenja carries the story of two places we have always called home.
“Mar” comes from Marfori, my childhood home in Davao in the Philippines— a place filled with family, warmth and the kind of welcome that always made room for one more person at the table.
“Fenja” comes from my husband Klaus’s beloved summer home on the Danish island of Fanø — a place of simplicity, nature and quiet moments shared with the people you love.
Bringing these two names together felt like bringing two parts of our lives into one. And so, when this beautiful piece of land in the Douro Valley came into our care, we called it Quinta da Marfenja.
For us, Marfenja is more than a vineyard. It represents the homes that shaped us, the cultures we carry with us and the life we continue to build together. It is our hope that, with time, it will become a place where others can also feel at home — gathering around a table, connecting with the land and sharing moments that stay with them long after they leave.
THE ESTATE
A PLACE THAT ASKED US TO SLOW DOWN.
Quinta da Marfenja lies in Valença do Douro, surrounded by the steep, terraced vineyards and olive groves that make this part of Portugal so extraordinary.
The old vines grow from the region’s schist soil, following the contours of the hillside as they have done for generations.
Among them are olive trees that connect us to another of the Douro’s enduring traditions.
There is something deeply moving about standing here. The landscape feels both strong and fragile — shaped by nature, time and the hands of those who worked it before us. It reminds us that we are part of something much older and greater than ourselves.
Marfenja is still a small, rustic and working agricultural estate. Its beauty is honest: weathered terraces, ancient vines, olive trees, changing light and the quiet rhythm of the seasons.
It is a place that has taught us to pause, pay attention and appreciate what grows slowly.
OUR HISTORY
FIVE GENERATIONS BEFORE US. A NEW CHAPTER WITH US.
The story of Quinta da Marfenja did not begin with us.
For five generations, the land belonged to one local family who cultivated its vineyards and cared for its olive trees. Their history remains present throughout the estate — in the hand-built schist walls, the old vines, the terraces and the traces of work carried out season after season.
When the time came for us to take over the estate, we felt the weight and privilege of becoming its next custodians. We were not simply acquiring a piece of land. We were stepping into a story shaped by generations of work, patience and belonging.
That understanding continues to guide every decision we make.
We want to preserve what gives Marfenja its soul while gently preparing it for its next chapter. Our dream is to keep it rooted in agriculture while creating a place where people can gather, learn, share meals and experience the Douro through genuine connections with its land, traditions and people.
We know this will take time — and perhaps that is part of the lesson Marfenja is teaching us. Some dreams are not meant to be hurried. They are meant to be tended, season by season.
FROM OUR ESTATE
THE HARVEST, BOTTLED.
Our olive trees have become one of the most meaningful parts of life at Marfenja.
Each harvest brings people together to gather the olives, follow their journey to the mill and wait for that first stream of fresh olive oil. It is a simple but unforgettable moment—the land giving something back after a year of care.
From our trees, we produce nearly 250 litres of pure, certified extra virgin and virgin olive oil. Every bottle carries a small piece of Marfenja: its soil, its seasons and the hands that helped bring in the harvest.
Our olive oil, together with other products connected to the estate, will be available through the Marfenja Estate Pantry.
PURCHASE FROM THE PANTRY
COMING SOON...
OUR STORY IS STILL UNFOLDING
Quinta da Marfenja is a dream in progress.
There is still much to restore, learn and create — and many stories waiting to be shared. We would love for you to follow this journey with us: through the changing seasons, the harvests, the people we meet and the slow transformation of this land we feel so fortunate to care for.
Subscribe to our journal and stay close as Marfenja’s next chapter unfolds.
STAY CONNECTED
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @QUINTA_DA_MARFENJA
OUR VISION
[THE NEXT CHAPTER
OF MARFENJA]
Share what you hope Quinta da Marfenja will become in the years ahead.
What kind of place are you creating? How will hospitality, agriculture, food, experiences, creativity, or community become part of its future?
This is an opportunity to connect the history of the estate with the reason you are restoring it today.
THE PEOPLE
[THE PEOPLE
BEHIND MARFENJA]
Introduce the people bringing Quinta da Marfenja's next chapter to life. This may include the owners, family, local collaborators, craftspeople, farmers, architects, makers, or others closely involved in the project.
You don't necessarily need formal biographies — a more personal introduction to who they are and what they contribute would suit the tone of the website.
RESTORATION JOURNEY
PRESERVING THE PAST.
MAKING ROOM FOR WHAT’S NEXT.
Introduce the restoration of Quinta da Marfenja. Explain why you chose to restore the estate, what you hope to preserve, and how you are balancing its history with the way the property will be used in the future.
01
[THE BEGINNING]
What condition was the estate in when you first encountered it? What made you decide that Marfenja was worth restoring?
02
[THE RESTORATION]
What work has been undertaken? Mention important spaces, architectural features, materials, or craftsmanship being restored.
03
[WHAT WE’RE PRESERVING]
What original elements, traditions, or characteristics of the estate were especially important for you to protect?
04
[THE FUTURE]
What will Marfenja become once the restoration continues?
How do you hope people will experience and use the estate?