[E] Herdade do Esporao interview

http://www.bkwine.com/wine_tours/wine_tours.htm --- Interview with winemaker Sandra Alves at Herdade do Esporao in Alentejo, Portugal. Sandra is one of three winemakers at the Esporao winery, Alentejo's probably biggest privately owned vineyard (500 hectares). She is one of three winemakers, the chief winemaker being David Baverstock (originating from Australia). They have a broad range of both white and red wines, some are fermented in oak barrels. Herdade de Esporao wine estate, Alentejo, Portugal.

By BKWine: http://www.bkwine.com

See all our wine videos on our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/bkwine

==========================

This is a short presentation, quoted from the Esporao web site:

"In the heart of Alentejo region, 180 Km south of Lisbon, in Reguengos de Monsaraz, the Herdade do Esporão was aquired by Finagra with the main porpuse of producing wines of great quality. From 1975 until 1979, the Herdade do Esporão was occupied during the revolutionary and agricultural periods. Only after this period Finagra was allowed to proceed the winery project. Our modern cellars were built in 1987. A new stage of Finagra project was acomplished. In 1989 the first wine "Esporão" was considered one of the best Portuguese wines and three years later the brand "Monte Velho" was launched.

In 1995, after our brands were considered among the best ones, new investments were made. A new area of vineyard was planted and the existent was completely renovated. A dam with 4.000.000 m3 capacity was built, feeding a drip irrigation system that covers all the vineyard. The purchase of Perdigões Estate, with 180 ha of vineyards, the expansion of the cellar and the construction of the wine tourism complex are some of the most recent investments of this dinamic company developing the "Herdade do Esporão"."