João Portugal Ramos takes pride in being a global reference for Portuguese wines, giving identity to distinct, high-quality wines. Its goal is to offer customers wines that represent the best of each region where it operates: Alentejo, Beiras, Douro, and Vinho Verde.
Today, João Portugal Ramos Group wines are present in various countries, leading Portuguese wine sales in some markets. Currently, the winemaker is supported by two of his five children: João Maria in winemaking and Filipa in marketing, ensuring the continuity of this family business. The company began in 1980, when João Portugal Ramos, a descendant of a long line of producers, graduated in Agronomy, interned at the National Viticulture Station Study Center in Dois Portos, and began his winemaking career in Alentejo.
With the experience he gained, João Portugal Ramos founded Consulvinus in the late 1980s, with the aim of responding to the growing demand from producers across the country. Consulvinus expanded beyond Alentejo, reaching Tejo, Setúbal Peninsula, Dão, Beiras, and Lisbon, contributing to the development of notable Portuguese wines and revitalizing regions that had been overlooked by wine lovers and consumers. In the late 80s, João Portugal Ramos planted his first five hectares of vineyard in Estremoz, beginning his personal project. Estremoz was the first place chosen to produce his own wines, after a career as a consulting winemaker in Portugal’s major wine regions.
The first harvest took place in 1992, and over the following years, wine was produced in rented facilities. In 1997, the new facilities were used for the first time, marking a significant year as the Vila Santa winery in Estremoz began construction. This same year saw the first harvest of the Marquês de Borba Reserva, and the following year, Colheita, the group’s strongest brand, was created, maintaining consistency over the years.
In the 2000s, the Vila Santa winery expanded to a covered area of 9,000 m², equipped with modern winemaking technology, a bottling room, and cellars with around 300 barrels of French, American, and Hungarian oak. Five years later, Quinta de Foz de Arouce, in Lousã, became part of the Group. Although João Portugal Ramos had already been responsible for the wines of his in-laws, the Counts of Foz de Arouce, it was only in 2005 that the Quinta officially became part of the Group.
The Duorum project was born in 2007, the result of a partnership between João Portugal Ramos and José Maria Soares Franco, with the aim of standing out both in the Portuguese and international markets. Later, in 2010, the Group initiated a project in the Vinho Verde region, and in 2013, it launched the first João Portugal Ramos Alvarinho. The following year, João Maria joined the winemaking and production team in Alentejo, marking the entry of the second generation into the company.
In 2016, the Group made one of the largest transactions in the beverage sector in Portugal, acquiring CR&F – Carvalho Ribeiro & Ferreira, expanding its portfolio of wines, olive oils, and vinegars with brandy and aguardente. In 2017, the year the company celebrated its 25th anniversary, João Portugal Ramos received the “Senhor do Vinho” award from Revista de Vinhos, and the Vila Santa winery was expanded for the third time.
João Portugal Ramos, internationally recognized for the tradition and excellence in producing Portuguese wines, reached another milestone in 2022: the winery became a “Certified Member of the Alentejo Wine Sustainability Program (PSVA)” in the categories of “Winery” and “Viticulture.” The great challenge is to produce high-quality grapes and wines in an economically viable way while protecting the environment and fostering good relationships with employees and local communities. This certification reinforces the producer’s long-standing commitment to nature conservation, elevating Alentejo to a level of excellence in sustainable winemaking. Among the practices that demonstrate João Portugal Ramos’ environmental commitment are: actions to protect endangered species, participation in the European Conservation Network, certified organic vineyard production, optimized water use in the vineyards, and the careful selection of materials, always focusing on efficiency.
In 2024, the Group invested in the Lima Valley and the Loureiro grape, transferring its Vinho Verde operations to Ponte de Lima in partnership with the Portela family. This move strengthens the control over the vineyards, ensuring a more effective response to market demands. In the same year, João Portugal Ramos received the Tribute Award from Revista de Vinhos, recognizing his pioneering role and the legacy he created, bringing the name of Portugal to the world.
