Profile of Ramos Pinto Port
Founded by Adriano Ramos Pinto in 1880, Casa Ramos Pinto has an illustrious history. The winery was initially used to make wines headed only for South America, Brazil in particular, it soon became known around Europe for its high-quality wines. Adriano Ramos was particularly gifted at marketing and started a campaign using his famous Ramos-Pinto posters, which to this day grace wine shops all over the world. Mr. Ramos was himself a young artist quite well-known in the artsy circles of the time in Porto. He founded the company at the tender age of 21, conquered the Brazilian market and brought his brother in to help him run the company in 1896.
In 1918, Ramos Pinto became a Limited Company and management became comprised of Raúl Ramos Pinto, António Cálem, and Joaquim Allen, who turned out to be a very dynamic team. In 1938, Jose Ramos Pinto Rosas took the helm and came to be called “the Pope of the Douro” due to his dedication to the viticulture of the Douro region, particularly in his ambitious pursuit for solutions to mechanize the area and to improve the quality of the production. He founded the Confraria do Vinho do Porto (The Port Brotherhood) and was Portugal’s representative in the O.I.V. (Office International de la Vigne et du Vin).
João Nicolau de Almeida joined the company in 1976, having together with José Ramos Pinto Rosas carried out the project to select the five varieties recommended for the Douro region. In addition, he introduced and developed the mechanization of vertical vines in this same wine producing region and developed the vinification of Port and still wine. On the Quintas do Bom Retiro dos Bons Ares he built two of the most modern vinification centers in the whole Douro region. He is director of AEVP and Copeiro-Mor da Confraria do Vinho do Porto. He became vice chairman of Casa Ramos Pinto in March 2001.
Today, Ramos Pinto is part of the prestigious Roederer Group, famous for their champagnes, particularly the esteemed Cristal Champagne. The Port Lodge is a pleasure to visit, with a historic library and Cellar museum.
Wines produced
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Ramos- Pinto Quinta da Ervamoira
Single Quinta port from the winery's experimental vineyard. Here, 240 acres of vines are planted vertically, a departure from the traditional terraced rows stepping horizontally up the steep slopes rising from the river. Touriga Nacional (30%); Tinta Roriz (30%); Tinta Barroca (25%), and Touriga Francesa (15%) and Aged in wood for 10 years.
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Ramos- Pinto Porto Superior Tawny
Wood-aged ports are blended from several vintages and several quintas. Unlike the majority of port shippers, Ramos-Pinto owns almost all its own vineyards and controls grape quality from pruning to harvest. Made with Tinta Roriz and Tinto Cao and aged for a minimum of four years in traditional wooden pipes before bottling. Alc. 19.5%.
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Ramos- Pinto The Collector
An unfiltered vintage character port, it’s a blend of several excellent vintages aged in wood for about six years. The wine is produced with grapes mainly from the Quinta da Urtiga, located in the Cima-Cargo sub-region on the left bank of the River Douro in the Torto Valley. This 37-acre vineyard is home to 30-year-old vines mixed varietals. Goes perfectly with sweet dark chocolate. Alc. 19.5%.
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Ramos- Pinto Lagrima Port
Made from extremely ripe grapes which provide body and density to the wine. Unusual composition of grape including: Malvasia Fina, Codega, and Rabigato. After fermentation with skin contact, which confers an intense golden color, the wine is aged for four years in traditional wooden pipes. Alc. 19.5%.
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Ramos- Pinto Porto Fine Ruby
Youthful style Port comprised of principally Touriga Francesco and Tinta Barroca, two varietals that produce a beautiful, lively color. Aged for three years in large chestnut casks. Contact with the air is minimized to prevent oxidation and preserve the wine's youthful ruby-red hue. This method of maturation also retains the wine's deep fruit aromas and flavors, allowing it to be both velvety and youthful. Alc. 19.5%.
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Ramos- Pinto Quinta do Bom Retiro
TThis single Quinta is in the Cima-Corgo sub-region on the banks of the Douro at the mouth of the River Torto. Here, 120 acres of 25 year old pre-phyloxera vines grow in stony soil between a native forest reserve and groves of olive and almond trees. Comprised of Tinta Barroca (25%); Touriga Francesca (15%), Tinto Câo (2%), and mixed old vines (28%) it’s aged 20 years in wood. Alc. 20%.
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Ramos-Pinto Vintage Porto
In the making of their vintage port, the finest wines of the Quintas are selected, Bom Retiro and Ervamoira, to create a full-bodied, intensely fruity and complex wine. Made with Touriga Nacional (60%), Tinta Roriz (15%) Tinta Barroca (10%) and other older varietals (15%) and aged for a minimum of 18 months in oak or chestnut casks.
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Ramos-Pinto Porto Fine White
White Port made from Malvasia Fina and Codega. After fermentation with pumping over for increased skin contact (which confers an intense golden color and more complex flavors and aromas), the wine is aged for three years in traditional wooden pipes. Ready to drink and a fantastic aperitif. Alc. 19.4%.
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Ramos Pinto LBV
Single-vintage blend that has been aged for four to six years in oak casks, unlike a vintage port which ages only two years in wood before bottling. As a result of this extended wood contact, LBV ports have mature, fruity flavors at a younger age. Made of Tinta Roriz (55%), Touriga Nacional (30%), Tinta Barroca (15%). It is crushed by foot in the traditional way in concrete lagars, to obtain maximum body and color. Alc. 19.5%.
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Ramos Pinto 30-Year Tawny
Made from Ramos-Pinto's estate vineyards in the best production zones of the Delimited Douro Region, the 30-Year Tawny is a blend of wines that have been aging in oak for an average of three decades in the winery's cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia. Mixed Douro varietals from Ramos-Pinto's highest ranked estate vineyards. Foot tread and fermented in traditional granite lagares and then aged in oak for 30 years and kept in-bottle for several months before being released to market. Alc. 19.9%.
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Ramos-Pinto Duas Quintas Tinto
Red table wine from the Douro, Duas Quintas is a blend of grapes from two very special Ramos-Pinto vineyards. Grapes selected from two quintas: Quinta da Ervamoira and Quinta dos Bon Ares. Touriga Francesa (40%), Tinta Roriz (40%), and Touriga Nacional, the Douro's most noble varietal (20%). Aged for six months, 50% in oak casks and 50% in steel vats. Alc. 12%.
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Ramos-Pinto Duas Quintas Reserva
A selection of the very best grapes selected from two quintas: Quinta da Ervamoira and Quinta dos Bon Ares. Varietal used are 66% Touriga Nacional, the most noble varietal of the Douro, and 34% Tinta Barroca. 100% of blend aged in new oak casks for 18 months. The wine is then aged an additional two years in-bottle before release. Alc. 12%.
Winery details
Casa Ramos Pinto Port Lodge- Av. Ramos Pinto, n°400 - 4401
Vila Nova de Gaia
Portugal
Tel +351 223707000
Fax +351 223775099
- Appellation
- Port and Douro Superior
- Founded
- 1880
- Age of vines
- up to 80 year old vines
- Oak barrel origin
- American and French
- Winemaker
- Joao Nicolau d'Almeida, a direct descendant of Antonio and Adriano Ramos Pinto
- Owner
- Roederer Group
- Grape varietals
- Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barroca ,Tinta Roriz ,Touriga Francesa, and Tinto Cao, Malvasia Fina, Codega, and Rabigato
