The Bacalhôa Group, a leader in the Portuguese wine sector, announces a strategic reorganization in its Oenology team that aims to strengthen its position in the national and international market. This change is led by the CEO of the Bacalhôa Group Luís Ferreira, who took office last December and reflects the company's commitment to innovation and excellence.
New Institutional Relations Department – A new strategic area of the Bacalhôa Group
In this context, the Bacalhôa Group creates the new Institutional Relations Department, led by Vasco Penha Garcia, who coordinated the oenology area of the Bacalhôa Group in recent decades, Vasco now takes on this new challenge as Director of Institutional Relations.
This appointment reinforces the Bacalhôa Group's commitment to strengthening ties with strategic partners and institutions, bringing us even closer to the key commercial players in the sector, while maintaining our vision and strategic management.
Vasco Penha Garcia's deep knowledge of the industry, combined with his vast and diverse experience, will be a valuable asset in strategic planning, opportunity management, and ensuring the Group's ethical responsibility, contributing to our positioning and projection both nationally and internationally.
Generational Reinforcement in the Oenology Team
To maintain the tradition of excellence and innovation, the Bacalhôa Group promotes a generational renewal in its winemaking team, combining proven experience with new perspectives.
Francisco Antunes - New Director of Oenology of the Bacalhôa Group
Francisco Antunes, who throughout his long career has developed several research works and has been recognized several times for his merit, having received, among others, the Best Winemaker award in 2006, awarded by Essência do Vinho, and the Winemaker of the Year award in 2023, by Grandes Escolhas magazine, now takes over the leadership of the winemaking team with the aim of further raising the quality and excellence of Bacalhôa wines.
With a degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Évora and a diploma in Oenology from the Institute of Oenology in Bordeaux, he has more than 35 years of experience. As Director of Oenology at Aliança Vinhos de Portugal, he was responsible for the wines of the Vinho Verde, Douro, Beira Interior, Dão, Bairrada and Alentejo regions, as well as for sparkling wines and brandies.
His career, marked by solid technical and scientific knowledge and a remarkable ability to adapt to different terroirs and winemaking conditions, highlights him as a complete winemaker, not only for his competence in producing great wines but also for his pleasure in sharing knowledge.
The Bacalhôa Group Winemakers from North to South
Filipa Tomaz da Costa, the doyenne of Portuguese winemakers and an iconic figure in wine and Bacalhôa, after 42 harvests leaves the Oenology Department of Adega de Azeitão, remaining on the team as Consultant Winemaker. Numerous times recognized and awarded, it has awards such as Trophyes and Platinium Decanter IWC medals – International Wine Challenge, thus ensuring the continuity of the work developed and the preservation of the oenological knowledge that distinguishes the Bacalhôa brand.
João Ramos, Master in Viticulture and Oenology from L'institut Agro Montpellier and Hochschule Geisenheim University, and Agronomist from the Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA) assumes the role of Winemaker responsible for Bacalhôa wines in Azeitão.
João has solid oenological experience, acquired in national and international reference companies, ensuring the continuity of the quality and consistency of our wines in the Setúbal Region.
Magda Costa, Assistant Winemaker at Francisco Antunes, at Aliança Vinhos de Portugal in Sangalhos, since 2022, now assumes the leadership of our wines, sparkling wines and brandies, in the regions of Douro, Beira Interior, Dão and Bairrada.
With a degree in Oenology from UTAD and a postgraduate degree in Oenology from the Catholic University of Porto, Magda, as a Winemaker, will ensure the continuity of the group's excellence in these Regions.
Rui Vieira, a winemaker with extensive experience in the sector and with the Group since 2022, will continue his work as the lead Winemaker at the Quinta do Carmo Estremoz Winery, upholding tradition and ensuring sustainable quality, certified by PSVA, in the emblematic Alentejo region. Rui holds a degree in Food Engineering from Escola Superior Agrária de Santarém.
“These strategic changes reinforce the Bacalhôa Group's commitment to innovation, quality, and sustainability. With the introduction of this new generation of winemakers in our oenology team, we are well-prepared to face the challenges of an increasingly competitive market. We aim to uphold the legacy of previous generations, both in our tradition of excellence in wine production and in our commitment to growth and transformation.
As innovation is one of the greatest challenges in our industry, we are confident that this team will continue the mission of positioning Bacalhôa at the forefront of Portuguese wine. This will strengthen our modernity and enhance our ability to set the agenda for the sector.”
Bacalhôa Group CEO – Luís Ferreira
About Bacalhôa Group
The Bacalhôa Group, one of the largest and most innovative wine companies in Portugal, has developed over the years a wide range of wines that has earned it a solid reputation and the preference of national and international consumers.
Present in 7 Portuguese wine regions, with a total of 935ha of vineyards, 33 different grape varieties and 4 wine centres (wineries), the company stands out in the market for its size and autonomy, with over 70% of self-production. Each of the entities that make up the Bacalhôa Group - Bacalhôa Vinhos de Portugal, S.A., Aliança Vinhos de Portugal, S.A and Quinta do Carmo, S.A. - has its own production centre with unique characteristics and a heritage of intrinsic cultural value.
It is to the dynamics generated by the intersection of these various identities, explored using the most current technology and the knowledge of a renowned team, that the Bacalhôa Group owes its unique ability in the competitive Portuguese market to offer the perfect wine for any occasion.
