Filipa Pato
Filipa Pato is a renowned Portuguese winemaker and emblematic figure of the new generation of producers committed to sustainable viticulture that respects the terroir. Born into a family deeply rooted in the winegrowing tradition of the Bairrada region, she is the daughter of the famous winemaker Luis Pato and the granddaughter of João Pato, a pioneer of bottling in the region.
After graduating in chemical engineering with a specialization in biochemistry from the University of Coimbra in 1997, Filipa honed her skills in viticulture through harvesting experience in several of the world's great terroirs, notably alongside her father, Luis Pato, who passed on his know-how and love of the Baga grape, emblematic of Bairrada.
In 2001, she decided to strike out on her own and founded her own brand, selecting and buying grapes from different Bairrada terroirs to better understand their uniqueness. She soon adopted a production philosophy based on the purity and authenticity of autochthonous grape varieties such as Baga, Bical, Arinto, Cercial and Maria Gomes.
In 2006, her husband William Wouters, an award-winning Belgian chef and sommelier, joined her in this adventure. Together, they acquired their first vines, a key step in their commitment to controlled viticulture from A to Z. Today, their estate covers some 20 hectares, cultivated biodynamically. They run two businesses:
From vineyard to bottling, everything is controlled by them, guaranteeing sincere, unadulterated wines. Their motto? "Authentic wines, without make-up."
The couple has gained international recognition thanks to their minimalist approach to winemaking and their relentless quest for solutions to adapt vineyards to climate change. Their "Nossa Calcario Baga 2015" made history by becoming the first Portuguese single-vineyard wine to be awarded 96 out of 100 points by Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate.
Filipa and William regularly welcome young interns to their winery, and have set up a training document to guide and pass on their know-how. Always looking to exchange ideas, Filipa believes that this is the only way to progress in the world of wine.
Today, Filipa Pato is recognized as one of the leading figures of the new generation of Portuguese winemakers. Her work, at the crossroads of family tradition and innovation, redefines the identity of Bairrada wines. Convinced that sharing ideas is essential to progress, she remains open to discussion and collaboration with those who share her vision of authentic, sustainable viticulture.