The Terras & Terroir group, which owns wine and wine tourism properties in the Douro, Dão, Bairrada and Alentejo, announced its expansion in the Alentejo Demarcated Region with the acquisition of the company Ribafreixo Wines .
Investors Maria do Céu Gonçalves, Álvaro Lopes and Paulo Pereira have had common projects in Portugal and France since 1999, and started by investing in the viticulture business at Quinta da Pacheca , in Lamego, in the heart of the Douro wine region.
With the acquisition of the Caminhos Cruzados winery, in Nelas (Dão), in December 2020, the entrepreneurs founded the Terras & Terroir Group and, at this moment, already own Quinta do Barrilário , in Armamar, and Vila Marim Country Houses , in Mesão Frio, both in the Douro, and Quinta do Ortigão , in Bairrada.
The group's entry into the Alentejo took place with the acquisition of Herdade da Rocha , in Crato, and the expansion in this region is now taking place with Ribafreixo Wines , at Herdade do Moinho Branco, Vidigueira, without having, however, information about the values of the business has been revealed.
“We are attentive to all business opportunities in the areas of viticulture and wine tourism, in the most different regions of the country”, said, quoted in a statement, the management of the Terras & Terroir Group.
He also added that "it is the group's mission to keep the history of the regions alive, producing and taking to each consumer high quality wines and unique experiences around this fascinating world of wine".
Businessmen Armando Tavares and Piedade Tavares are also partners in this business, Portuguese emigrants living in the United States of America (USA) who maintain a “strong connection” to their country of origin.
The group clarified that “the business model that has been pursued in previous acquisitions is to preserve”, so, in this transaction, “a good part of the previous 'staff' will remain”, including Nuno Bicó, who will remain at the head of the viticulture team, and Paulo Laureano, who will continue to oversee the oenology area.
“We will continue to value the local, historical and gastronomic heritage, producing high quality wines that ennoble the Terroir that is so identifiable in Vidigueira”, underlined the administration.
This project in Alentejo began in 2007 with 28 plots of land, where 114 hectares of vines were planted, connected to the irrigation system of the Alqueva dam. of wine production.
Ribafreixo Wines has a vegan certification, with none of its wines having any element of animal origin.
According to the statement, the company also develops ecotourism activities, promoting guided visits to the winery and the property, as well as wine tasting, and has a restaurant with typical Alentejo food, where the dishes are harmonized with the references of the five brands it sells. .
Newspaper: O Atual.
Text: Inês Patola.
