Location and surface area of the Ramos Pinto vineyard
Located in the Duriense region, in the northwest of Portugal, Ramos Pinto has been producing Douro and Port wines for over 140 years, which are renowned for their high quality. The entire production of Ramos Pinto stems from 4 Quintas acquired over time since the creation of the estate. The terroir of this iconic house now covers 250 hectares.
What is the history of Ramos Pinto?
Adriano Ramos Pinto, the strategist
The history of Ramos Pinto dates back to 1880. At the age of 21, Adriano Ramos Pinto founded the eponymous house with the ambition of enhancing the potential of the fine terroirs, located in the north-west of Portugal, by producing great Duriense wines. A visionary and a lover of the arts, Adriano Ramos Pinto was also a strategist and a fine negotiator who chose to export part of his wines, predominantly to Brazil. This innovative marketing strategy was a great success, making the company a leader in the Portuguese, Latin American and European markets from the beginning of the 20th century.
The company's international expansion
Adriano invited his younger brother, António Ramos Pinto, to join him at the head of the company. While António was in charge of the commercial and financial management, Adriano continued to develop the brand well beyond the Portuguese borders.
From 1918 onwards, the company, then called Adriano Ramos Pinto and Irmo, became a joint venture. Adriano Ramos Pinto and his brother were joined by Raúl Ramos Pinto, António Cálem and Joaquim Allen. From then on, the five partners developed Ramos Pinto's activity with great enthusiasm. Although the company became the leader in the Brazilian market, 50% of its production is dedicated to exports.
A never-ending quest for innovation and constantly seeking to enhance the terroir
José Ramos Pinto Rosas joined the company in 1938 as a director and has since been recognised as the "Pope of the Douro". This praise is due to his extensive research into grape varieties, terroirs and the mechanisation of the winemaking process in this region of Portugal.
Great-grandson of António Ramos Pinto, João Nicolau de Almeida has been in charge of production since 1976. Benefiting from a wealth of experience in winegrowing in the Bordeaux region, he worked alongside José Ramos Pinto Rosas on the implementation of mechanical tools, reorganising the vineyard, irrigation, rootstock selection and new vinification methods. A technical study was also carried out in order to select, from a base of 70 varieties, those that were best adapted to the region'sclimate and soil. This analysis, which is the only one still carried out today, highlighted five key varieties: Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca and Tinto Cão.
An iconic house looking towards the future
A cousin of João Nicolau de Almeida, Jorge Rosas joined Ramos Pinto in 1986. In charge of marketing and exporting the wines, he was appointed director in 2014 before taking over the management of Ramos Pinto in 2016, following the retirement of João Nicolau de Almeida.
All you need to know about the Ramos Pinto terroir
Location and exposure
Since its creation in 1880, Ramos Pinto has lived by the adage that "great wines come from great grapes". Thus, Ramos Pinto has progressively acquired four Quintas in the best vineyards of the Douro Valley, located in the northwest of Portugal. Each of them, through a tapestry of soils and the expression of its grape varieties, contributes to the unique and high quality signature style of Ramos Pinto wines.
Quinta do Bom Retiro
Located in the Cima Corgo sub-region near Pinhão, the Quinta do Bom Retiro watches over a 110-hectare terroir of which 80 hectares are cultivated. The vines are 40 years old on average and are planted at an altitude of between 110 and 400 metres.
This avant-garde Quinta, located near the Torto River, was chosen as an experimental site. This place is where numerous studies on the evolution of planting techniques have been carried out. Thus, its vines, originally planted on traditional terraces, have been replanted on contour-hugging terraces.
Quinta Vinha da Urtiga
Neighbouring Quinta do Bom Retiro, Quinta Urtiga is located in the municipality of Valença do Douro, in Pinhão.
With a surface area of 4 hectares, of which 3.5 hectares are vineyards, this terroir is located on pre-phylloxera terraces built over two centuries ago. The vineyard is more than 100 years old and is situated between 290 and 324 metres above sea level on a French-loam soil with a naturally high acidity. It includes 64 varieties of red grapes. The entire vineyard is cultivated in an organic manner and according to biodynamic regulations since 2017.
Quinta dos Bons Ares
Located in the municipality of Vila Nova de Foz Côa, in the Douro Superior sub-region, Quinta dos Bons Ares spreads across a total surface area of 47 hectares, 25 of which are in production, at an altitude of 600 metres. The vineyard is 25 years old on average, and includes varieties such as Touriga Nacional, Viosinho, Folgazão, Rabigato and Touriga Franca.
Quinta de Ervamoira
In the municipality of Vila Nova de Foz Côa, in the Douro Superior sub-region, that the Quinta de Ervamoira reveals its 223-hectare terroir, of which 178 hectares are in production. The vineyard is 30 years old on average and is planted at an altitude of between 110 and 340 metres, exclusively in vertical plantations, i.e. without terraces. The Quinta de Ervamoira is unique due to its array of sun exposures and its schist soil.
Climate: A unique climatology, enjoyed by great vineyards
Portugal's proximity to the Atlantic Ocean results in high humidity, mild winters and particularly hot and dry summers. However, there are significant climatic differences between the coast and inland Portugal.
The Quintas that make up the Ramos Pinto vineyard have their own climatic features and characteristics. For example, the Quinta dos Bons Ares has the peculiarity of having cooler summers and more rainfall than the other regions of the Douro Superior due to its high 600-metre altitude. In the Quinta de Ervamoira area, the winters are cold and the summers are hot and dry.
Growing practices
With the ambition of producing exceptional Port wines, Adriano Ramos Pinto has been leading an uncompromising quest for quality since 1880. Over the years, thanks to a meticulous search for the best terroirs, Ramos Pinto has built up a rare vineyard where each plot contributes to the definition of the elegant, fruity and complex style of its wines.
For more than a century, the philosophy of Ramos Pinto has been to achieve excellence and to offer a unique sensory experience when tasting each wine. From the selection of the best vines and bunches of grapes to the viticultural methods and the selection of the wood for the ageing period of the wines and the blending, each Ramos Pinto wine testifies to the attention paid to the most minute detail.
Ramos Pinto was the first Port House to create Late Bottled Vintage Port in 1927 and today it remains a benchmark for lovers of fine Port. Since 1990, Ramos Pinto has once again reflected its pioneering spirit by producing a White Wine and a Red Wine from the Douro.
Vinification
In order to enhance the brilliance of the fruit and the nuances of each terroir, the vinification process is carried out with the utmost precision. The choice of the type of barrel heating is an essential element in the degree of smoothness and creaminess sought in each wine.
The style of Ramos Pinto wines
Wine profile
Ramos Pinto offers a wide range of wines, for both wine lovers and wine connoisseurs.
Made exclusively from white grapes, the White Ports seduce with their smooth and sophisticated expression.
Aged in large wooden casks, the house’s Ruby Ports reveal their intense and expressive character.
The Tawny Ports are the result of a skilful blend of wines of different ages aged in 650-litre casks, and their uniqueness lies in their amber colour, their elegance and their aromatic complexity.
The still Douro wines harmoniously combine a broad and complex aromatic palette with a beautiful freshness.
Ageing potential
While many of the Ramos Pinto wines can be enjoyed today, the Ruby Ports can be kept in the cellar for many decades.
