How it began

Benjamim Martinho Lopes devoted himself to wine business since early. In the 1930s, he installed vineyards of traditional varieties – Castelão and Fernão Pires – and also of innovative grape varieties – Alicante de Bouschet and Grand Noir. The planting densities were high. The low productions per plant, associated with a good maturation of the grape, originated complex and high structured wines.

Later, in the 1960s/70s, the first interventions in the vine parcels started, in order to adapt the vineyard to mechanization. The balance was kept by combining the vineyard densitywith its training system.

João dos Anjos Dias was able to keep tradition in innovation. He inherited the family knowledge and experience in the art of creating wines. Since 1980, he started a vineyard reconversion process. In 2001, he made his debut as a bottler with the brand Tinto de Azinho.

José Paulo Dias promoted a modernization strategy which involved the planting of new vineyards and technological improvements in the production process.