Terras Do Sado 2019

It was dear old Margret Thatcher who claimed, "there's no such thing as society." Throughout her 11-year tenure she spent much of her time proving this point by snatching children's milk, refusing to give up her bus seat for disabled people and putting out her wheelie bin on Tuesdays despite knowing full well collection day was Friday.

Not to be dismissive of the Iron Lady, she was undeniably effective, people just tend not to agree whether that was a good thing. On this point however, we're inclined to disagree with her; community is an excellent thing. Take the SIVIA – Sociedade Vinícola de Palmela S.A. as an example; a society of wine growers, that through cooperation have made wines of wonderful quality. The Terras do Sado Tinto is fresh and bright with punchy dark fruit notes and soft spiciness that makes it markedly drinkable. No such thing as society? Pish, they’ll be saying there’s no such thing as great Portuguese reds next!

A family owned and run company in Palmela at the heart of the Peninsula de Setubal region. They own over 130 hectares of vineyard as well as buying grapes. The wines are made at the classic Quinta do Piloto winery built by Filipe's family in 1929. They produce wine and Moscatel de Setubal.

Respecting the terroir of the region, with environmentally friendly practices and minimal technology to produces wines of regional character and authenticity.
Filipe Cardoso is the 3 generation of the family to make wine in this region. He learned his trade locally and internationally and heads up a dynamic team at Quinta do Piloto.

Grapes are picked manually, partially destemmed and co-fermented in stainless steel vats. After fermentation the wines are left for around 3 months in contact with grape skins before being racked to concrete tanks for further ageing.