Herdade do Esporão

This is more an award for the group than just Herdade do Esporão, but that is a large, iconic winery fully certified in 2019. If you ask the average Portuguese consumer, the winery stands for fine value wines most of all, but that’s not all it is about. There is also a focus on sustainability. With over 778 hectares (1,922 acres) in total, 673 hectares (1,663 acres) are under vine, almost all of which are certified organic, “Esporão Group is one of the world’s largest producers of certified organic wines.” It is run by João Roquette of the family that owns it. Their other properties, such as Quinta dos Murças in Douro, are also 100% certified organic. There are initiatives on water use, energy use, packaging, local labor and more. As one example, they also have a Social Sustainability initiative. “Low pay and poor conditions where agricultural labor is concerned are a worldwide issue. In Portugal, there also existed a traditional social divide — field workers bringing their cold lunch and eating separately, for example,” said Roquette. “At Esporão those distinctions between field (one-third of the company’s employees) and office have been erased. Everyone gets transportation to and from work, a hot, sit-down lunch, health insurance, access to a company-paid lawyer or psychologist, the possibility of a year-end bonus, and career advancement based on performance." Esporão’s motto has become “reduce, reuse and recycle.” In 2022, the Herdade do Esporão Restaurant earned a MICHELIN Green Star and a MICHELIN one star from the MICHELIN Guide Spain and Portugal.

This rather large family winery based in Alentejo is one of the regional icons and is particularly known for good values. It is currently run by João Roquette of the family that owns it. This is a winery with old roots, even if wine production under the current labels is newer (dating from 1985). The geographical boundaries of the estate, the winery says, were established in 1267 and remain “practically unchanged.” The winery acquired nearby Herdade dos Perdigões in 1995, plus Quinta dos Murças in Douro as of 2008 and iconic Quinta do Ameal in Vinho Verde in 2019.