Not many children dream of a career turning grapes into wine, but João Pires knew from an early age he was headed for the vineyard. After completing a degree in winemaking in 2005, he went straight on to his very first vintage.

His expressive wines are critically acclaimed, catching the attention of Decanter who awarded one of his Portuguese classics an almost unheard of 97%-rating and platinum medal.

João's winemaking career is centred in the region where he was born and raised. The Douro native knows the land like the back of his hand and knows all the best grape-growing spots - he's involved in every aspect of winemaking, from hours tending the vines to bottling the wines, it's a labour of love.