João de Gouveia Osorio
Northern Interior
A champion of ancient vines and unsung regions
João de Gouveia Osorio is a man after our own hearts. A micro negociant, he searches out old and interesting vineyards across the northern interior in the most obscure, yet promising places. João’s project serves to introduce people to Portugal’s lesser known varieties and terroirs, he also invariably works with older farmers who have no younger generation with whom to pass on the local (viti)culture. João’s work brings hope that these wines and flavors will continue on.
João’s solo project is aptly titled Portugal Wine Firm, but he has also recently started a project called Inves with winemaker Enrique Cizeron, based in Tras-os-Montes. All of the wines are simply, yet expertly, made with a focus on transparency and freshness at an incredible value.
Inves is a collaboration between João de Gouveia Osorio and Henrique Cizeron, climbing up to the far reaches of the Alto Tras-os-Montes, some of the most isolated mountain tops in Portugal. This project preserves incredible centenarian vineyards in danger of abandonment, and preservers their unique flavors, captured in incredibly elegant, expertly made wines.