People from Quinta do Pôpa

THE DREAMER. Francisco Ferreira (Grandpa Pôpa) was the bastard son of a great Douro wine producer and his maid. He lived a simple but happy life, albeit in the shadow of his unknown father on record. Pôpa was a very charismatic person, known and respected by the people around him. His biggest dream was to be recognized and valued for his work and (of course) by his father. He never achieved it. Today, even though he is no longer with us, he is the inspiration of the Ferreira family: an exemplary father, creator of a fantastic legacy, the Pôpa family, with fundamental family values.

THE CREATOR. Zeca has a true entrepreneurial and creative soul. It’s not easy to tell his story in a few lines, but you can feel it in every corner of this property, which has been restored by his hands. His search for independence began very early in life in the vineyard, right after finishing 4th grade. His father taught him hard work and resilience; life taught him courage. The journey was long and arduous. But after much effort, the acquisition of this property rejuvenated him, giving him the recognition that – as a child and in this very region – his father had so longed for. Today, this Quinta is the materialization of this dream, which strengthens the legacy of the Pôpa family.

Stéphane is a free spirit who inherited the charisma and strength of his grandfather Pôpa. When he began leading the family business in 2010, he overcame barriers by creating a strong and recognizable brand. He is a born leader, passionate about wine and people. After his family, his greatest muse is music. Fearless, he has brought his personality and freshness to the wines that toast the Douro.

Vanessa is a born dreamer. Her passion for the Douro comes from her hedonic connection with her family roots. She lives and projects the dream as a tribute to nature. Her personal dream is to be recognized as an inspiring woman who pushes and motivates people to become the best version of themselves.

From an early age, Carlos felt a deep connection with Mother Nature. His ambitious nature took him abroad to obtain a degree in viticulture from the University of Burgundy and a master’s degree in oenology from the University of Bordeaux. While studying, he worked in various wineries around the world. In 2011 he returned to his homeland, and it was in Portugal that he met one of his mentors and one of the greatest wine producers, Dirk Niepoort, with whom he worked for 7 years in the Douro. In 2018, he started his personal project Vinhos Inperfeitos and began his career as a consultant for wineries across the country. His greatest dream is to create authentic and unique wines forever. As pure and natural as possible. And it was this same dream that led him to Quinta do Pôpa in early 2021, becoming Head Winemaker.

Carina is a kind, calm and peaceful person. But at the same time she is a strong-willed woman, extremely meticulous and dedicated as the resident winemaker at Quinta do Pôpa. Together with her mentor Carlos Raposo, she creates authentic, unadulterated wines that respect their origin and nature – the #TSPôpa of Quinta do Pôpa. Her greatest dream is to be a leading woman in the world of oenology and Portuguese viticulture.

Rui has a long family tradition of working in the vineyard, dating back to his grandfather’s time. In addition to his personal project ESMERO WINES, Rui dedicates himself body and soul to the iconic Real Companhia Velha (Portugal’s oldest wine company) as head of viticulture. A friend of the family for over a decade, he advises and supports the third generation Pôpa to always maintain the desire to innovate and take risks, in order to make the project more solid and lasting. After all, Rui’s greatest dream is to see the efforts of the Douro winegrowers infinitely recognized and valued, making our region a place where the next generations can and will want to work, preferably in the vineyard and in wine.

Ana is a young, golden spirit. After finishing her degree in Journalism, she returned to the Douro in search of new professional opportunities. Her self-confidence and attractive personality led her to lead the wine tourism team at Quinta do Pôpa. A sun sign, she is able to unite different personalities in groups, taking them on a creative journey around Pôpa wines and the Douro region, making each of these moments unique and special.