Jaime Quendera

Jaime's Story

"My grandfather had a winery and my first memories are associated with wineries, and have always been something I enjoyed since a kid. My father liked me to go to the vineyards, but I just wanted to be in the winery, it was what interested me most and where I felt better.

I love being able to create, blend and shape my product. A winemaker is like a chef, creating a product in accordance to what he thinks is the taste that the consumer tries to find and still surprises him...I find it fascinating! That's what keeps me in the winery everyday, I work 15 hour days, always with the aim of producing the best wine possibly.

If I could compare myself to a wine it would be a classic Portuguese Castelão, when it's young we drink it well, it evolves very well for middle-aged and when it's old it's in great shape. A grape variety that lasts a lifetime!

My finest winemaking moment was when I won the best red wine in the competition Vinalies Internationales in Paris , 2008, with the wine Casa Ermelinda Freitas - Syrah 2005. Such accolades, as well as friends, family and customers commenting on how nice my wines are makes all the hard work worth it!"