Courage to Quality: Rita Ferreira Marques and Her Wine Project
Portugal's young star, Rita Ferreira Marques, took over her family's land in the Tejo Valley in the nineties and introduced new methods to viticulture.
As a student at the University of Bordeaux, she also worked as a “Flying Winemaker” in South Africa, California, and New Zealand. This means that Marques worked as an oenologist for several wineries and therefore frequently flew between the wineries.
Learning her craft in various countries outside Portugal helped her put viticulture into different contexts. For this, during her time abroad, she saw and experienced everything from large factories where machines do most of the work to hand-harvesting at smaller wineries.
In addition to these numerous experiences, her apprenticeship with Dirk van der Niepoort particularly shaped her. The Dutchman has a weakness for complex and spicy Portuguese white wine, which is also reflected in the Conceito wines today.
In 2005, Marques decided to finally venture out on her own and under her own name, and opened the Winery Conceito. As the first in the family, she began to keep the grapes that her ancestors had planted along the Douro for selling exclusively to large Port houses, but instead to keep the best to make her own quality wine: fine and elegant wines with plenty of freshness and minerality.
Her credo even back then was: away from mass production, towards individual quality. This earned her a lot of criticism. But after her resounding success – her great quality wines are popular worldwide and are awarded international prizes – she is now also celebrated back home in Portugal.
In between, she even returned to New Zealand once again to produce her Conceito Sauvignon Blanc in a classically European style in the Marlborough region.
Conceito Vinho: Quality Wine with a Concept
The name Conceito Vinho means something like Concept Wine and stands for Marques' quality-conscious project.
On the winery's 70 hectares of vineyards, planted with Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Amarela etc., cooler climatic conditions prevail – unlike further down the Douro.
The winery is divided into four vineyards:
- Quinta da Veiga (20 hectares),
- Quinta do Chão-do-Pereiro (20 hectares),
- Quinta do Cabido (23 hectares)
- and a 10-hectare vineyard with granite soil, which is planted exclusively with white wines.
Each vineyard is characterized by a special microclimate.
A deep understanding of the region and its peculiarities is the foundation of the project that inspired Conceito Vinho.
The harvest is done by hand, so that the first selection can take place directly at the time of picking. The vineyards are tended without the use of chemicals. The stated goal is to create wines with a good balance between terroir and freshness.
With the increasing popularity of the region's wines, the number of investors active here has also increased and continues to rise. This led to an expansion of the growing area, which also led to the forgotten places in the Tejo Valley being revitalized.
Conceito offers a wide range of wines, including white, red, rosé, Bastardo, Tawny Port, and Vintage Port. Every year, the young winery produces 120,000 bottles of wine in Portugal, 25,000 in New Zealand, and 5,000 in South Africa. This makes Rita one of the most dynamic young producers in all of Portugal. 98% of the products are exported to more than 20 countries such as Brazil, Switzerland, Canada, and Norway.
In just a few years, Conceito Vinho developed with an aura of quality and individuality into a winery that is recognized, sought after, and appreciated by consumers all over the world.
The Conceito Wines – Marques' Wine Repertoire
The Contraste Tinto
The Contraste Tinto has a seductive bouquet of blackberries and mulberries. Enriched with fine balsamic notes, it has an invigorating acidity with plenty of fruit and a hint of licorice.
It pairs particularly well with cheese, salami, grilled meat, and oily fish such as sardines and tuna.
Contraste Branco
The Contraste Branco impresses with an intense tropical and citrus bouquet, a full body, and an extraordinary lightness. The wine exudes a mineral freshness that one would usually not associate with such a southern wine country as Portugal.
It classically pairs well with fish, seafood, and sushi.
Conceito Tinto
In this red wine, you will find earthy spice notes and aromas of small berries and pepper. The Conceito Tinto is distinguished by its "classic Douro character". It is elegant, smoky, with full structure and freshness, and pairs particularly well with game dishes and duck.
Conceito Branco
The wine initially surprises with its fine mineral structure in both aroma and taste. The Conceito Branco is clear and vibrant like a rushing mountain stream, while its power makes it both fine and untamed. Aging in small barriques gives it additional power, silkiness, and structure.
It pairs well with both fish and seafood, as well as risotto, veal, and chicken.
Conceito Bastardo
The Conceito Bastardo is made from the Bastardo grape, which is distinguished by its noticeably light color. This grape was very popular until the 18th century, but then fell into oblivion, as particularly deep red wines enjoyed greater popularity.
In the meantime, however, young Portuguese winemakers have rediscovered this grape, and so we can enjoy the warm notes of herbs and cherries that this wine so beautifully brings out.
Conceito Legitimo
This wine lets the old roots of the Douro region speak in a light and seductive way. Conceito Legítimo is a wine of joy: friendly, intense, and with depth, velvety and with a long finish.
A perfect companion at the table. It pairs well with cheese, pasta, pizza, and salami.
Tawny Port 10 Years
The sweet taste of caramelized walnuts blends with cotton candy and dried fruits. The earthy notes and aromas of ripe figs combine in the mouth into a perfect symbiosis.
The subtle but lingering sweetness in the finish makes this Tawny Port 10 years the perfect companion for a cheese platter or powerful desserts.
Conceito vinified in New Zealand and South Africa
After Marques' internships abroad, she decided to return to New Zealand and South Africa once again. There, she wanted to revive the classically European style of winemaking, which people on the other side of the world were less accustomed to.
Conceito Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough
The Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand's largest wine region, is particularly distinguished by its intense aromas and excellent quality, for which Sauvignon Blanc from the region is known.
The aromas of blackcurrant, herbs, and green fruits are very cool and juicy on the palate, almost tart and with a crisp minerality.
Conceito Breedekloof South Africa Red
This blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon was vinified by Portuguese winemaker Rita Marques in South Africa.
After months of aging in French oak barrels, the fine roasted aromas of these classic Bordeaux grape varieties come particularly velvety to the fore. Aromas of dark chocolate and ripe plums make this red a palate-pleasing wine with character.
Another interesting article about Rita appeared in Wine Enthusiast (in English).
About the Author
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