In five decades of dedication to the winemaking alchemy, António Saramago has never witnessed a decrease in his pleasure for the discovery, the feeling of adventure and the passion for excellence. With over 200 prizes, among which Oenologist of the Year and Top Winemaker in the Wine Masters Challenge, he has reached an undeniable status among the Portuguese producers. Nowadays, the projects that he chases with contagious enthusiasm take him to several regions of the country, attracting praises from world opinion leaders such as Jancis Robinson and Robert Parker, and the boundless pleasure of the Portuguese consumers.
It was in Azeitão, among the beautiful vineyards of Setúbal, that António Saramago was born in 1948. José Maria da Fonseca, the company where his father had already worked was the place where he found a school and discovered his calling. Guided by the steady hand of Engineer António Soares Franco, a recognized Portuguese oenologist, he started a career that would lead him to head of the oenology department. It was in France that he found the perfect place to strengthen his experience with the rigor of the intellect finishing his studies in Université Victor Ségalen in Bordeaux. A long and productive career would follow, in which he has founded legendary brands as Granja/Amareleja or Tapada de Coelheiros, in such contrasting areas as Bairrada, Beira Interior, Ribatejo, Alentejo and Setúbal.
In 2002 he inaugurates his own company, fulfilling the dream of commercializing a secret portfolio of quality wines at accessible prices thus valuing the work of the small producers. António Saramago, who doesn’t own vineyards, acquires those wines after the fermentation process (that he follows meticulously) and is responsible for giving them the best aging process in his facilities.
This methodology has allowed the company to assure the presentation of true rarities such as “Escolha António Saramago”, from Setúbal, which has conquered the two most desired awards of the region and “António Saramago Reserva”, an icon of the Castelão vine variety, to which smaller percentages of Alicante Bouschet, Cabernet Sauvignon and Trincadeira have been added in blend. This intense ruby colored wine, with red fruits aroma and good tannins has a very complex aroma and it is very gastronomical.
Among the wines from Alentejo that are included in his portfolio, “Dúvida” stands naturally out. Having been distinguished in the 2008 harvest with an excellence prize by Revista de Vinhos, it has a deep color, black plum aroma, firm tannins, very balanced acidity and a long aftertaste.
Other revelation was the red Cinquenta AS, a remarkable wine created to celebrate the author’s 50th oenology anniversary. The Castelão vine variety projects all the terroir’s personality. It ages in French oak barrels for 18 months and is a dense wine with deep aroma that shines among meat and soft cheeses.
Being a good son of his land, António Saramago could not disregard the Moscatel. Distinguished with the Silver Medal in the international contest Muscats du Monde, the exquisite Moscatel de Setúbal António Saramago, ages for four years in French oak. Topaz colored; orange peel, honey and nuts aroma; it is an unctuous appetizer balanced with good acidity and goes perfectly along with regional sweets.
This and other wines have been helping to perpetuate the fame of the region and of its producers that find in António Saramago the support and example of creativity, wisdom and love for the terroir – a terroir worth of intense caring that the producer ennobles with five decades of infinite passion.
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