Since 1943, a family home that guards 3000 hectares of Alentejo.
A unique place that gives rise to surprising superior quality wines, born in a micro-climate that positively affects the vines planted since 1998.
A history that has always been guided by rigor, demand and attention to the smallest details.
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1943
Acquisition of Monte da Ravasqueira
The property was acquired by D. Manuel de Mello, as a family home and retreat outside the city.
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1966
Passing of D. Manuel de Mello
When the patriarch died, Ravasqueira passed to José Manuel de Mello, one of his sons, who would dedicate himself to agriculture there, improving the breed of the Lusitano Horse and planting vines. In this house his 12 children grew up to lead the José de Mello Group. Ravasqueira became, over the years, much more than a family home, employing, at one point, more than 300 people from the Arraiolos region.
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1996
Carriage Driving World Champions
A feat achieved, by four horses, a team of Lusitano Horses from Ravasqueira, led by Felix Brasseur, in Waregem, Belgium, in what was the first major victory of Lusitano Horses in a world equestrian competition.
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1998
Planting the first vineyards
José Manuel de Mello starts his wine project, a lifelong passion. The planting of vineyards took place between 1998 and 2002.
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2001
First harvest
Four years after the first vines were planted, the family harvested what would be their first wine. Bottled and labeled as MR, this wine would never reach the market, being today considered a relic of great symbolism within the family and Ravasqueira employees.
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2003
The first wine is launched
From the 2002 harvest, the first Ravasqueira wine reached the market. A red wine that was marketed until mid-2017.
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2005
Vinha das Romãs is launched
An icon of Ravasqueira is born in 2005. A single vineyard with origins in just over 7.5 hectares of a very special vineyard where before Touriga Franca and Syrah there was a pomegranate orchard that greatly influenced a wine that from an early age established itself as a great Alentejo wine.
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2009
Passing of José Manuel de Mello
With the passing of José Manuel de Mello on September 16th, one of his life goals remained to be fulfilled: to make Ravasqueira an unavoidable reference in the production of Alentejo wines. This is the main motivation of his 12 children who have chosen to continue producing and selling wines, paying homage to their father in each wine, but especially in each bottle of the Heritage range.
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2012
A new cycle
In 2012, Pedro Pereira Gonçalves took on the challenge of rethinking Ravasqueira's oenology philosophy and the profile of the wines, focusing on the sustained growth of the brand, with the aim of making it a reference in the Alentejo.
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2016
New brands
Implementing one of the main vectors of Ravasqueira's strategy, a process of creating Premium brands begins, thus creating some of the consumer's favorite brands. This is the case of the brands Guarda Rios, Coutada Velha, Dona Vitória and Mocho Galego.
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2021
New Ravasqueira identity
Ravasqueira presents an image, adjusted to the market and including some novelties such as Encantado wines and Vinha das Romãs Blanc de Noirs. One more step towards getting closer to the consumer both nationally and in export markets.
A story in each bottle.
Ravasqueira's wines were born from a dream and every day everything is done to honour that dream, which is fulfilled through a culture of overcoming, demanding, and deep admiration for the Alentejo. On the label of each bottle, we remember José Manuel de Mello, his passion and dedication to the art of producing great wines. We remember with nostalgia, but above all with great responsibility all the teachings he left us.
