since
1943
1943 - Acquisition of Monte da Ravasqueira
The property was acquired by D. Manuel de Mello as a family home and retreat outside the city.
1966 - D. Manuel de Mello passes away
When the patriarch passed away, Monte de Ravasqueira was inherited by one of his sons, José Manuel de Mello, who thereafter dedicated himself to the land’s agriculture, to the enrichment of the Lusitano Horse breed, and to the plantation of the vineyard. In this house, all 12 of his children grew up and now lead the José de Mello Group. Over the years, Monte da Ravasqueira became much more than a family home, employing over 300 people from the Arraiolos region.
1996 - Coupling World Champions
A feat achieved by a team of four Lusitano Horses from Monte da Ravasqueira, driven by Feliz Brasseur in Belgium, in what was the first major victory for the Lusitano Horse breed at a world equestrian competition.
1998 - Planting of the first vineyards
Fruit of a long-standing passion, José Manuel de Mello initiates his wine project, planting the first vines at Monte da Ravasqueira.
2001 - First harvest
Four years after the first vines were planted, the family harvested what would be the first wine. Bottled and labelled as MR, this wine never made it to market, nowadays being considered a relic of great symbolism within the family and the Ravasqueira workers.
2003 - First wine launched
From the 2002 harvest, the first Monte da Ravasqueira wine arrived on the market. A red wine that was commercialised until mid-2017.
2006 - Iberian Coupling Cup
Organised by Monte da Ravasqueira, the races took place at Herdade da Mata, between 23 and 26 March, comprising a horse competition in which competitors were evaluated in terms of teaching, marathon, and manoeuvrability. Classified as CAI-A, the highest level of races for four, two and one horses, as well as for four ponies, the Iberian Coupling Cup had about 200 horses and 80 participants, from Portugal, Germany, Belgium, France, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States of America. It is still considered one of the most memorable and important coupling competitions ever held in Portugal.
2009 - José Manuel de Mello passes away
With the passing of José Manuel de Mello on 16 September, one of his life goals was yet to be fulfilled: to make Monte da Ravasqueira a household name in the Alentejo wine production. This is the main motivation behind his 12 children, who chose to continue the production and commercialisation of wines, thus paying homage to their father in each wine produced, but especially in each bottle of the Premium range.
2012 - Change in the wines' profile
In 2012, Pedro Pereira Gonçalves embraces the challenge of rethinking Monte da Ravasqueira’s oenology philosophy and wine profile, betting on a sustained growth of the brand with the aim of making it a revered name in the Alentejo.
2016 - Exclusive wines
In order to accomplish one of the main vectors of Monte da Ravasqueira’s strategy, a process of creation of exclusive brands of high-quality wines and differentiated concepts for their respective distribution begins. As is the case of the Guarda Rios, Coutada Velha, and Landau brands in Portugal.
2017 - Commercial repositioning
2017 was marked by an adjustment in the brand’s identity and by a process of commercial repositioning. Wines were allocated into two main ranges – Ravasqueira and Monte da Ravasqueira – and new wines were launched, as were the cases of the Family Reserve and the Classic, Superior, and Selection of the Year segments.
Vision
Become a household name in the production and commercialisation of Alentejo wines.
Mission
We are a family-owned company, creating value for our stakeholders and supported by a culture based on the promotion of sustainability and the values of innovation, competence and human development, which produces and sells wines of a unique identity and quality.
Team
The Ravasqueira wine project is led by two engineers who seek to make Ravasqueira a commanding reference in the Alentejo.
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Pedro de Mello President -
Other activities
In addition to the production and commercialisation of wines, we have developed further activities related to the forest, such as cork, raising and marketing of cattle, and the fattening of the Alentejo black pig, as well as the production and marketing of honey and olive oil.
Cork
Olive Oil
Marketed under the Monte da Ravasqueira brand, this is a high-quality olive oil, produced right here with the best of the Galega and Cobrançosa olive varieties.
Cattle
Honey
Marketed under the name Monte da Ravasqueira, this farm honey, produced in the Serra de Serpa, has its nectar based on the rosemary flower.
Forest
“The Dom Diniz Agricultural Society manages the Ravasqueira and Mata Estates, which cover a total area of about 3,000 ha, of which 700 ha are of cork oak forest, 1,600 ha of mixed cork oak and holm oak, 80 ha of irrigated land, 120 ha of pinewood for the production of pine cone, 45 ha of vineyard and 400 ha of dry agricultural land with arable crops and olive groves.
The forest areas produce 65,000@ of cork per 9-year cycle and are used for cattle grazing on covered soil, as well as for the fattening of the black pigs with acorns.”
Cattle
“Our cattle of 500 cows is divided into two groups of 250 cows each, one of which consists of pure Mertolenga cows while the other comprises a cross between the Mertolenga and Limousine breeds, both for the production of meat.
We fatten around 250 black pigs per year.
On the irrigated land, we produce fodder for the cattle, being entirely self-sufficient in its feeding. The remainder of this production is sold.”
Alentejo
A region of undulation plains, which presents a relatively smooth and flat landscape that extends over almost a third of mainland Portugal. Due to its large area, it has the peculiarity of giving rise to distinct microclimates and, consequently, different wines. This is our Alentejo.
NEWS AND EVENTS
