Pinalta

Pinalta wines history started 100 years ago with the birth of its founder, Edmundo Alves Ferreira, in Mozelos, Portugal. Because the family was poor, at age 14, with only a 4th grade education, Edmundo left the country to find work. Arriving in Paris in 1921, he did anything to get money to eat. However, missing his family, and without funds, Edmundo soon decided to return to Portugal ... by foot! He actually walked over 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles), an incredible effort for anyone, but especially for a teenage boy.

Upon his return, Edmundo started working with cork, one of the most noble natural products. In 1927, he founded E.A. Ferreira Cortiças in his hometown of Lourosa, located about 30 kilometres South of Oporto. (The company has continued to the present day in family hands.) Producing a large range of cork products and exporting world wide, the company thrived such that Edmundo was able to diversify by acquiring vineyards. Between 1945 and 1948, he was able to acquire the Quintas of Ventozelo, Macedos, and Roncão, highly respected vineyards in the Douro Region, and totalling about 800 hectares of grapes. (The earlier family vineyards were sold off by Edmundo’s heirs, but his son Antonio was wiser; he was already acquiring replacement vineyards in the Douro).

Pinalta wines history started 100 years ago with the birth of its founder, Edmundo Alves Ferreira, in Mozelos, Portugal. Because the family was poor, at age 14, with only a 4th grade education, Edmundo left the country to find work. Arriving in Paris in 1921, he did anything to get money to eat. However, missing his family, and without funds, Edmundo soon decided to return to Portugal ... by foot! He actually walked over 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles), an incredible effort for anyone, but especially for a teenage boy.

Upon his return, Edmundo started working with cork, one of the most noble natural products. In 1927, he founded E.A. Ferreira Cortiças in his hometown of Lourosa, located about 30 kilometres South of Oporto. (The company has continued to the present day in family hands.) Producing a large range of cork products and exporting world wide, the company thrived such that Edmundo was able to diversify by acquiring vineyards. Between 1945 and 1948, he was able to acquire the Quintas of Ventozelo, Macedos, and Roncão, highly respected vineyards in the Douro Region, and totalling about 800 hectares of grapes. (The earlier family vineyards were sold off by Edmundo’s heirs, but his son Antonio was wiser; he was already acquiring replacement vineyards in the Douro).

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