Forty Years of Dedication and Determination

João Portugal Ramos, the owner of Vila Santa Winery, started his career as an oenologist in 1980. With the family’s winemaking history and accumulated experience, he bought five hectares of vineyards in Estremoz in 1989. From his 1992’s harvest, he produced wines in a rented building. João’s desire to have his own winery was fulfilled with the construction of Vila Santa in 1997. It is also in 1997 that the first Marquês de Borba Reserva is made and in the following year the Colheita is born, which, to this day, remains the strongest brand in the group showing unwavering consistency year after year.

Vines in the Finest Alentejo & Douro Terroirs

João Portugal Ramos works on estate-owned vineyards, along with long-term rental plots, accounting for 600 hectares, in four different regions. The company cultivates unique Touriga Nacional, Alicante Bouchet, Aragonez, and Cabernet Sauvignon. With respect to mother nature, some hectares are planted with Petit Verdot, Verdelho, Sauvignon Blanc, and Alvarinho. The grapes are manually picked during the harvest and moved to the cellar in small cases.All the Group´s vineyards are certified for Integrated and Biological production, which means minimal intervention and restricted use of pesticides in the control of pests.The Group has been part of the European Business & Biodiversity Initiative since 2012 – a European Network with the aim of promoting relations between companies and biodiversity.

Winery Expansion for the Third Time for More Red Wines

By 2000, the winery underwent various developments – the extension of the winery to 9000 square meters, the introduction of modern vinification technology, the construction of bottling room and cellars with 300 French, American, and Hungarian oak barrels. In 2007, João Portugal Ramos established a new venture with his long-term friend José Maria Soares Franco.The Duorum Project is a meeting of the minds from two regions that have worldwide recognition for quality and personality- the Douro and the Alentejo- in a project designed especially for the Douro. This project was born from the hands of two winemakers that mark the history of wine in Portugal in recent decades A new project in the Vinho Verde region is solely dedicated to international markets, started in 2010. Later in 2014, son João Maria joined the winery business, and today, he dedicatedly follows his father’s footsteps. Filipa, Ramos’s daughter, equally participates in the winery processes, handling the sales and marketing department.

João Portugal Ramos’s Vila Santa is Thriving on International Grounds

With vineyards stretched over charming CimaCorgo and Duoro Superior, Vila Santa is over a decade and a half old winery in the Estremoz region. Today, the winery is well-known worldwide for its top-quality Portuguese wines, olive oil, and vinegar. João Portugal Ramos’ wines are present throughout the world, being sales leaders of Portuguese wines in some countries.

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