Personified by the charisma and legacy of a great woman from the Douro – Dona Antónia – Porto Ferreira preserves the authenticity of its roots, tradition and the experience of a centuries-old history.

Porto Ferreira

Porto Ferreira generic product

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Well-known for its Port Wine, the world’s most famous liqueur, the Douro is also known for its still wines. In north-eastern Portugal, the region encompasses 250,000 hectares of mountainous terrain, where hills and valleys accommodate 44,000 hectares of vineyards in 3 sub-regions crossed by the Douro River. More than 110 grape varieties withstand harsh winters and scorching summers in man-made schist terraces. 

Douro region

Douro

To create the best wines, we combine science with technology and winemakers who put all their knowledge into each brand, with dedication and passion.

Winemaker: Luís Sottomayor

When he joined, in 1989, the winemaking team led by master Fernando Nicolau de Almeida, Luís Sottomayor knew he was in the right place to participate in the production of the best Douro wines. Today, with his skills recognized and the quality of his work proven, he leads the winemaking team at Casa Ferreirinha and all the Port wine brands of Sogrape Vinhos, a responsibility he assumed in January 2003. Despite having worked in other national and international wine regions throughout his professional career, Luís Sottomayor's commitment to the Douro and Port wine is unquestionable, earning him the 2010 Fortified Wine Winemaker of the Year award from Revista de Vinhos, one of the most prestigious Portuguese publications. In 2012, he was nominated for Winemaker of the Year at the renowned International Wine Challenge, during which Revista de Vinhos once again distinguished Luís Sottomayor, naming him Winemaker of the Year 2012.


Author, among others, of the famous Barca Velha and Quinta da Leda, and the great 2011 Vintage Port Wines presented by Ferreira and Sandeman, Luís expresses immense pride in having the opportunity to continue an unparalleled history in the wine world, praising the boldness and creativity of those who, without the aid of current technological conditions, managed to produce excellent wines that defy time.


A native of Moreira da Maia, married and father of three children, Luís Sottomayor has a comprehensive academic background that includes oenology courses from the University of Dijon in Burgundy and Charles Sturt University in Australia, in addition to a postgraduate degree in Oenology from the Higher School of Biotechnology in Porto.


Sustaining that the secret of great wines lies in the passion of those who write their history in the vineyards and cellars, Luís likes to highlight the effort made at Sogrape Vinhos to preserve and enhance the heritage received from great and prestigious brands, through the combination of traditional values with the aspirations and trends shaping the future.


A confessed football fan, Luís Sottomayor dedicates some of his free time to rugby, horseback riding, and hunting.

Porto Ferreira

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Luís Sottomayor