OUR STORY
The estate Herdade Barranco do Vale is located in São Bartolomeu de Messines, in a place called Campilhos, between the sea and the mountains of Monchique and Caldeirão.
The vineyards are set in a unique environment - mostly schist soils with great natural diversity with cork, carob, olive and pine trees.
It is a project driven by love: to the previous generations and to the local culture and wants to stand out for its quality and authenticity.
OUR FAMILY
Our project began with our grandfather Ramiro.
The family's third generation, that now manages the estate in Algarve, intends to combine the traditional and authentic with the most modern techniques in order to provide the market with a product of excellence.
On the back of the labels, each year you'll find a different letter written to Grandfather Ramiro - the driving force behind this project - as a simple tribute to the person who started this journey ("Letters to Grandfather").
2024
Dear Grandfather,
In 2024 we celebrated Grandmother Maria’s 95th birthday and parent’s 50th wedding anniversary. Everything is fine with us, except Jubas that left us. Life is short and can change from one day to another (the best is to enjoy it). Our wines continue to be appreciated, having been awarded with 11 medals (1 for Algarve’s best white), which made me very happy. The sheeps are more than 100, helping cleaning and fertilizing the land. The year was good, but we will try to make 2025 even better.
With love.
2023
Dear Grandfather,
It's been 5 years since we started this journey. And we have many reasons to celebrate: the three of us are great, we're healthy, happy, Tomás turned 18 and is already in university (he's the best of us). Mum and dad are also doing well, and grandmother turned 94 and is in great shape. 2023 came with another great-grandson – Pedro. Thanks to the lakes that you built more than 40 years ago, the drought didn't cause us any major problems. I know you would like to know that people really enjoy our wine. And I'm very happy with that. With love.
2022
Dear Grandfather,
Time is flying by. It's been seven harvests since we started this adventure. It's been a lot of work, but even more so the love we put into this project every day. And the result is clear to see: the estate looks beautiful and our wines are highly regarded. In 2022 we were awarded 16 medals, which made us very happy. Do you remember your rival Teófilo? He's been with us since the beginning and has been a true partner. Grandma turned 93, in good health, close to all of us. Tomás is a man and he's our pride. Big kisses from here to heaven.
Dear Grandfather,
In 2021 life started to get back to normal. Thanks to vaccines families and friends could meet again. It’s good to live. We renovated the animals’ building and the churras appreciated. Mum and Dad are great and admired that we have 2 (huge) dogs – Nutela and Jubas. RTP was here and even the President of the Republic appreciated our wine. Tomás is a wonderful human being. He already does business with carobs and Grandma Maria gives him advices. Our wines won 6 medals. Maybe you don’t know, this year Sporting was the Champion. Big kisses and continue taking good care of all of us.
Dear Grandfather,
2020 trouxe uma pandemia global. Os tempos são difíceis, mas respondemos com mais energia, guiados pelo exemplo que sempre nos deu. Lançámos 3 monocastas brancas, de uvas que eu já ajudei a plantar. Estamos todos bem, incluindo a avó que me continua a dar os seus sábios conselhos. Tem mais um bisneto: o António que também é Ramiro. Este ano foi especial, o avô completou 100 anos. Parabéns! Desejo que a festa tenha sido boa, como merece. Ergo o meu copo ao céu e brindo a si. Beijinhos com saudades.
Dear Grandfather,
2019 was an intensive year: of work and recognition. Our wine is very appreciated, which makes me happy. We won two medals that I proudly received with your great grand-son Tomás. Grandma turned 90 and we celebrated together (including Maria Leonor, that has already 1 year). From the grape to the glass we will continue to be inspired by your teachings. This wine staged X months before being bottled. A big kiss to the sky and continue taking care of all of us.
Dear Grandfather,
The farm is each day more beautiful. We rebuild the house and organized the surrounding area. We even had a Jazz event in the old corral. The wines have had a huge success and this year we launch the 1st white. The grapes were treated with care and selected carefully having this wine staged X months before being bottled. Hope you are proud. I’m very happy! With Love,
Dear Grandfather,
The farm remains beautiful. The cork-oaks you planted are strong and healthy, the olive trees big and solid and the berries simply divines. The old vineyard has been maintained with care and total planted area increased. The grapes who made this wine were treated and selected carefully and the production was made according to the best market practices. Matured X months before been bottled. With Love,
THE PRODUCTION
Wine production started in 2016 with 4 references. 3 reds (2 single-varietal and 1 blend) from the Aragonez and Castelão varieties and 1 rose Negra Mole, all classified as Reserve.
To the existing grape varieties (Negra Mole with about 70 years old and Aragonez and Castelão with more than 20) the new generation added white grape varieties that started producing in 2018 and whose first bottles arrived to the market in May 2019.
In 2023 it launched its first GRAND RESERVE wines.
By 2025, it had won 62 awards in regional, national and international competitions and received numerous accolades in the specialist and general press in Portugal and abroad.
Our harvest is hand-picking for 12 kg boxes in order to preserve the quality of the grapes.
Synergy of Visions
WINEMAKER - João do Ó
His mother’s family had always been involved in farming, and he grew accustomed to country life from an early age. However, his passion for wine developed later, whilst he was at university, where he studied Oenology at the Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA) in Lisbon.
He began his experience in grape harvesting in 2000 at Quinta de Pancas in Alenquer, where he took part in three harvests and carried out experiments and studies as part of his final-year dissertation.
He subsequently carried out two further vintages at Quinta do Cachão, in the Douro. This was followed by eight years at Quinta do Cardo, in Beira Interior. He has been working in the Algarve since January 2013.
The aim is to intervene as little as possible; the intention is to respect the estate’s unique terroir as much as possible, so that it is reflected in every bottle of wine.
A wine without character is a dull wine!
Cada vinho conta uma história!
PRODUCER - Ana Matias Chaves
Quality, Experience and Essence
Ana Matias Chaves — or Ana Luísa, as she is known to those who read our back labels — swapped a career in business management in Lisbon for the tranquillity of the Algarve countryside. At the age of 40, she changed her life to honour the legacy of her grandfather Ramiro, taking over the management of Herdade do Barranco do Vale with great passion.
In this project, family tradition blends with modern, rigorous management. From production to the glass, we apply best practices to ensure that every bunch of grapes receives the utmost care.
O reconhecimento internacional e a satisfação de quem nos prova são o reflexo da nossa preocupação contínua: levar apenas o melhor à mesa dos nossos clientes, preservando sempre a essência e o caráter único dos nossos vinhos.
SUSTAINABILITY
Herdade Barranco do Vale’s priority is its commitment to the land, regional identity and sustainability, through a practice unique to the region: the use of sheep of the native Churra Algarvia breed for the natural clearing and fertilisation of the vineyards during the dormant season — from the end of the harvest until pruning.
This initiative sets Herdade Barranco do Vale apart as the only wine producer in the Algarve to incorporate this traditional breed into the ecological management of its vineyards.
The sheep feed on the wild grasses growing between the rows of vines, maintaining the ground cover that helps retain water in the soil, reducing the use of harmful products and preserving biodiversity.
Through their manure, organic matter is naturally incorporated into the soil, enriching it and making it more resilient to drought — a concrete example of regenerative viticulture that gives back to nature what is taken from it.
Sustainability also extends to irrigation from ponds built in the 1980s, which store rainwater throughout the year, ensuring the responsible use of water resources and reducing the estate’s environmental footprint.
“We want every bottle of Herdade Barranco do Vale to tell a story of respect for the land and the roots of the Algarve. The presence of Churras Algarvias sheep in the vineyards is a symbolic and practical way of preserving the ecological balance and safeguarding our region’s genetic heritage.”
This philosophy of respect for the terroir is also reflected in the wines — such as the Rosé Negra Mole, made from a native Algarve grape variety that had almost been forgotten and is now one of the estate’s greatest sources of pride. This elegant and authentic wine expresses the character of the Algarve with delicate notes and a freshness that stems from the balance between the soil, the climate and the meticulously tended vineyard.
Our grape varieties
Negra Mole
with a fruity aroma, Algarve’s native grape variety from vineyards over 70 years old;
Castelão
from vineyards over 20 years old, has an intense ruby red color, concentrated, aromatic wines – raspberry and currant – and with good conditions for aging;
Aragonez
wines of great elegance and aromatics;
Antão Vaz
originates wines with citrus color and aroma of tropical fruits, some body and quite fine;
Viognier
originates wines of light golden color, with aromas of flowers (acacia, violet and honey), spices and fruits where peach and apricot stand out. It has low acidity and high alcohol content.
Arinto
provides vibrant and lively acidity wines, refreshing and with a strong mineral slant, and high potential for aging;
Alvarinho
originates wines with a delicate floral aroma, with some freshness and minerality;
Sauvignon Blanc
white variety with very characteristic aromas, easy to recognize, as well as the constantly penetrating and extremely dry style;
Chardonnay
it is one of the most popular grape varieties of the world, so it is not strange that it is also very present in Portugal. Melon, Exotic Fruits and Apple are the predominant aromas;