Rooted in Ribatejo, it was in olive oil production that Cardoso Family first stood out. But the search for new properties, in order to increase production, led to the discovery of the wonderful world of wines. Currently, it produces true benchmarks in the Douro, Alentejo and Tejo wine regions, including whites, reds, sparkling wines and rosés.
The passion and respect for nature, and all that it can offer, extended from Ribatejo to the Alentejo, where the Cardoso family owns Herdade da Lisboa since 2011. Located in Vidigueira, on a property with around 100 hectares of vineyards, this is where the modernity of the winery meets the tradition of the cellars and the diversity of the viticulture combines with the constant evolution of enology.
The history of this property includes the Paço dos Infantes wines and sparkling wines, a true iconical brand in the 80s and 90s, which were recovered in recent years by the Cardoso Family. The cool mornings and nights and the hot days of this region of Baixo Alentejo promote a balanced ripening of the grapes, preserving their natural freshness and acidity, while the gentle slopes and elevations of the landscape, as well as the clay and schist soils, confer minerality, versatility and diversity to the wines of Herdade da Lisboa.
It was during a boat trip on the Douro River that the family’s patriarch, João Cardoso, saw for the first time the property that he would later come to call his own: Quinta do Reguengo. Located in Pocinho – Vila Nova de Foz Côa, in the middle of the region classified as World Heritage, this country estate belonged to Queen D. Amélia and has the river as its neighbour and main inspiration.
Since 2018, the Cardoso Family has developed a project that involves the rehabilitation of the winery and mills of Quinta do Reguengo, recovering the vineyard and launching references, such as Cortes do Reguengo and Cais do Reguengo. This portfolio also includes Vale da Pia wines, a property with a higher altitude and larger extension. The two properties together account for 200 hectares, where the grape varieties Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinta Roriz, Gouveio and Viosinho stand out, giving rise to complex and balanced wines.
After conquering Alentejo and embracing Douro, the Cardoso Family introduces now a new family member, until recently kept out of the limelight: Quinta Dom Rodrigo, a property located in the heart of the Tejo region. By the foot of the Serras D’Aire e Candeeiros, Quinta Dom Rodrigo is located in the municipality of Santarém, in Casével. Its origin dates back to 1560, and it currently houses the ruins of a manor house and tells historical curiosities from the 16th century. From the grapes of this property is born the wine Quinta Dom Rodrigo Red 2019 that unites the identity of Alicante Bouschet, Caladoc and Syrah varieties, assuming itself aromatic, intense and with a balanced volume and texture in the mouth.
In the last few years, the Cardoso Family wines have been distinguished in Portugal and abroad, in competitions and publications such as the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, the International Wine Challenge competition or the Grandes Escolhas Award. Its history is made up of memory, affection and tradition, but also of modernity and creativity; with eyes set on the future, without ever forgetting its origins, roots and respect for nature, territory and people.
