Nickname:
Queen of Baga
Spirit Animal:
Lassie, the rough collie from the television series
The wine that lit the fire:
1971 Scharzhofberger Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese from Egon Müller
Community:
Ois do Bairro, Anadia, Bairrada, Portugal
M.O.:
Early morning wake up, taking our two Boys to school. A walk through the vineyards and help our team with necessary tasks, then to the cellar and discuss with my husband all kinds of stuff regarding our wines and new projects. In fact, we are always trying to improve what we do.
The thing that led you to wine as a career:
My family is over more than 10 generations involved in wine in Bairrada and the women were always in command in viticulture.
Current gig:
Full-time married mother of two boys and a husband —taking care of three guys at home. Winegrower in a tiny medieval village on a hill surrounded by vineyards. We only work with indigenous grape varieties and one of them is the emblematic “Baga” grape.
Favourite part of your job:
Everything. Working in the vineyards, making the wines, the contact with our clients, spreading our passion for our job together with my husband all over the world.
If you could pick another way to get involved in the wine world, what would it be?
Perhaps through the restaurant business, as my husband is a former restaurateur and sommelier.
Current wine crush:
All wines with a big identity that reflect a certain area/region and made using biodynamic methods.
Favourite wine resource:
The sommelier world and the exchange with other passionate wine growers.
Dynamic Duos:
Suckling pig (leitao) and Baga-based sparkling wines.
Dream dinner dates:
Madame Lalou Bize-Leroy and Marie-Thérèse Chappaz to share ideas about wines, vineyard management and biodynamic farming.
What do you love about your current position?
My independence.
What is the best advice you’ve received?
Keep it simple and focus.
Have you ever experienced gender bias or discrimination in your work? How did you approach the situation?
No, because I was always focused on my passion and was lucky to meet my partner in crime — my husband.
Why do you think women are under-represented in the wine industry?
I never thought about this because I was never confronted with this.
What are the most significant challenges for women in our industry, and for those women who will come after us?
To be able to balance family life and work.
What can we do to change these issues?
Keep focusing on balance.
Is there something that you do to support the women in our industry?
Yes, we are supported by a majority of women working with us in the vineyards and the cellar.
Is there anyone who has become a mentor for you, or otherwise been especially inspirational or supportive?
My crazy husband. He has put me in contact with a lot of great producers all over the world.
