On 11 November, the Club took a guided tour of Casa Ermelinda Freitas, in Fernando Pó, which allowed us to appreciate the evolution of the winemaking process from its beginnings, which started with 2 grape varieties in 1920, to the present day, with 29 grape varieties. A story made up of the work of four generations in which the female presence in its management is predominant. Today it is one of the largest family-run companies producing some of Portugal’s best wines, award-winning and renowned from the Setúbal Peninsula, which are aged in around 3,000 barrels spread over two cellars.
In the Golden Salon, the wines and the main prizes and distinctions awarded since 1999 are displayed – more than 2,000 at national and international level. In 2023, at the Grand International Wine Awards Mundus Vini Spring, one of the most prestigious international wine competitions in the world, which took place in Germany, Ermelinda Freitas House wines were honoured with 15 distinctions (Grand Gold Medal, 12 Gold Medals and one Silver Medal). Also in 2023, in another competition in France, it won 13 medals.
In the House of Memories and Affections, we learn about the entire family and company history through photographs, as well as the original storerooms and interesting equipment from the old mills.
The visit was followed by a St Martin’s Day lunch on the balcony overlooking the vineyards, which took place in a very pleasant atmosphere among the members present.
