Story Behind Casa Ferreirinha Wines
Do you look at the story behind the wine label?
One of the best of many fantastic lectures in the UC Davis Marketing program centers around “the story behind the label.”
Some stories are famous: like that of the widow Madame Clicquot, who found the fortitude to carry on her husband’s Champagne business upon his passing.
The Story of Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira
A lesser known story with some similar plotlines is that of Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, for whom the Casa Ferreirinha brand is named.
Dona Ferreira was born in 1811 in Régua, the gateway town to Douro Valley wine country. Married off at an early age and faced with many challenges, she was able to take over the family business (Ferreira Port), in 1845.
Ferreira Port had been the first Portuguese family owned Port House in the Douro. At that time, the majority of owners were British. And all operated by men.
During her tenure at Ferreira Port, Dona Antónia expanded her estates, created new expanses of terraced vineyards and improved the hard lives of the local farming families.
Turning to Unfortified Wine in The 1950s
In the 1950’s, Ferreira’s technical director, Fernando Nicolau de Almeida, set out to make the highest quality unfortified wines in the Douro.
His goal was to produce elegant, top-quality wines with the aging potential of Vintage Port.
Today the company makes delicious popularly priced wines, three of which I recently tried in a virtual tasting.
Tasting of Casa Ferreirinha Wines
The Casa Ferreirinha webinar was hosted by lively fine wine specialist, Anita Musi, who told the brand story and described her thoughts on the wines.
Planalto (White Wine) 2019
This was a delicious white wine with crisp acidity and aromas of tropical fruit.
20% Viosinho, 20% Malaysia Fina, 15% Gouveio, 15% Arinto, 15% Códega, 10% Rabigato, 5% Moscatel
Papa Figos (Red Wine) 2018
Very easy drinking red wine with soft tannins and fruit-forward appeal.
35% Tinta Roriz, 30% Tinta Barroca, 20% Touriga Franca, 15% Touriga Nacional
Vinha Grande (Red Wine) 2019
This more structured wine offers sweet tannins for more than a year’s aging in French oak.
45% Touriga Franca, 30% Touriga Nacional, 20% Tinta Roriz, 5% Tinta Barroca-
