SOGRAPE has purchased a property in Alentejo

[Roy Hersh]

Sogrape has just acquired Quinta do Centro, in Portalegre. The objective is to rebuild production in the Alentejo.

“The ambition is to produce high quality wines that express the unique terroir of the Serra de São Mamede”, says Sogrape, in a note, where it is not said which amount was involved in the business.

“Sogrape’s winemaking team is now exploring the opportunities of this sub region that is becoming increasingly attractive to Portuguese and international consumers, thereby complementing the company’s portfolio of wines produced in Alentejo, strengthening its credentials as a producer of reference, “says Sogrape.

In the new ownership of the Sogrape group, 10.5 hectares have vineyards planted in the last two decades and there are also 2.5 hectares of old vineyards, about 70 years old. Trincadeira, Aragonez, Alicante Bouschet, Grand Noir, Syrah, Viognier, Touriga Nacional and Cabernet Sauvignon are the grapes in Quinta do Centro.

The business included the winery with capacity for 100 thousand kilos vinification and an underground warehouse, with aging capacity of 18 thousand liters in barrel.

Quinta do Centro, located between 500 and 600 meters above sea level, is Sogrape’s latest bet in the Alentejo, where it has been present since 1991, when it launched the ‘Vinha do Monte’, which was then produced with grapes bought in the region of Vidigueira.

[Andy Velebil]

There is good interest in buying properties in these less hilly areas of Portugal where one can farm using far less manual labor than the Douro. Way more cost effective than the Douro is for making relatively inexpensive or moderately priced dry wines.

IIRC, this Quinta was owned by Richard Mason prior. Though I have no idea why he sold it.

[Paul C. Metman]

There is good interest in buying properties in these less hilly areas of Portugal where one can farm using far less manual labor than the Douro. Way more cost effective than the Douro is for making relatively inexpensive or moderately priced dry wines.

IIRC, this Quinta was owned by Richard Mason prior. Though I have no idea why he sold it.

Hi Andy, this is the answer (website Richard Mayson):
"This leads me to another aspect of our business. The business partnership formed between Rui Reguinga and myself in 2005 has not been working well for sometime now and this year it broke down irretrievably. This is not the place to go into the whys and wherefores of this other than to say, despite making some good wines, we were not generating the sales. 'Living the Dream' has at times meant living a nightmare over the last two years. So after much reflection it is with considerable sadness that I have decided to put Quinta do Centro up for sale. It is a beautiful property in a wonderful place making excellent wine but over the last 18 months I have come to the realisation that the business in Portugal is impossible to manage from the UK where I am spending the majority of my time."

[Andy Velebil]

There is good interest in buying properties in these less hilly areas of Portugal where one can farm using far less manual labor than the Douro. Way more cost effective than the Douro is for making relatively inexpensive or moderately priced dry wines.

IIRC, this Quinta was owned by Richard Mason prior. Though I have no idea why he sold it.

Hi Andy, this is the answer (website Richard Mayson):
"This leads me to another aspect of our business. The business partnership formed between Rui Reguinga and myself in 2005 has not been working well for sometime now and this year it broke down irretrievably. This is not the place to go into the whys and wherefores of this other than to say, despite making some good wines, we were not generating the sales. 'Living the Dream' has at times meant living a nightmare over the last two years. So after much reflection it is with considerable sadness that I have decided to put Quinta do Centro up for sale. It is a beautiful property in a wonderful place making excellent wine but over the last 18 months I have come to the realisation that the business in Portugal is impossible to manage from the UK where I am spending the majority of my time."

That's a bummer, but I guess the realization of most businesses.