Wine Success Stories

Foot trodden wines fly high up in the sky

by Catherine Walbridge

26/01/2026

Renowned Portuguese winery Rocim is proudly painting the skies in both red and white with British Airways in 2026. From this month (January), the UK flag carrier will offer two Rocim wines in its premium cabins: Grande Rocim White 2024 in first class and Rocim Alicante Bouschet 2024 in business class.

Both wines are from Vidigueira, one of the coolest parts of the Alentejo region, where the power couple of Portuguese wine, Pedro Ribeiro and Catarina Vieira, have developed Rocim into one of the country’s most exciting wineries over the last 20 years.

"These two wines chosen by British Airways express the essence of Rocim’s DNA – elegant, mineral wines made from organic grapes that showcase the best of both 21st century and traditional Portuguese winemaking techniques. Rocim wines are already enjoyed in more than 50 countries so we are delighted that now they can also be savoured by discerning passengers at 35,000 feet."

Rocim CEO Pedro Ribeiro

Breath of fresh air

A Rocim vineyard in the Alentejo region — © Rocim

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Grande Rocim White 2024 is an exceptional single vineyard wine from 100% native Arinto grapes. Its mineral, spicy aroma comes courtesy of the granite soils that have earnt Vidigueira wines an enviable reputation since the 15th century. Fermentation begins in concrete tanks before the wine is transferred to 500 L used French oak barrels and then aged for 12 months. The yellow-green coloured wine, which is only made in small quantities, has a mineral aroma and Rocim’s trademark tension and structure.

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The deep ruby-coloured Rocim Alicante Bouschet 2024 also hails from Vidigueira, which faces the Atlantic Ocean to the west and benefits from the breezes which roll inland, cooling the climate and helping bring a distinctive freshness to the wines. Hand-picked grapes are foot-trodden in stone lagares, an ancient Portuguese practice that gently crushes them while preserving their colour and flavour. The wine is then aged in used French oak for eight months. The structured tannins and menthol, balsamic and spicy notes are typical of the Alentejo’s signature red grape variety, while its freshness and acidity are a hallmark of Rocim’s winemaking style.

Cool Portugal

Ribeiro and Vieira began their joint winemaking journey in the Alentejo, where their wines, especially those matured in amphora, quickly became recognised for their vibrancy and cool structure. Thousands of people now visit the striking Rocim winery every year to see the clay vessels for themselves, enjoy a tasting paired with Alentejo delicacies on the panoramic terrace or custom blend their own wine.

But this dynamic couple weren’t content with making the premium wines of origin from just one appellation. They set out to find other ‘cool spots’ in Portugal, even in normally warmer regions, and now make a fascinating collection of wines from the Douro, Dão, Bairrada, Lisbon, the Algarve and the Azores.

The accolades for their refreshing close-knit wines have flowed in – they were crowned ‘Producer of the Year 2024’ by the leading Portuguese wine publication Revista de Vinhos and selected as a producer to look out for in 2025 by esteemed UK wine writer Jancis Robinson MW.

Pedro Ribeiro and Catarina Vieira of Rocim — © Rocim

Now 2026 has got off to a flying start for this innovative producer. “The fact that British Airways has chosen to serve our wines in its premium cabins confirms that they can stand shoulder to shoulder, sip for sip, with the best in Portugal – and elsewhere,” adds Ribeiro.

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About Rocim

Catarina Vieira and Pedro Ribeiro live and breathe fresh, origin-based wines from Portugal. The power couple's story began in Vidigueira in Alentejo, which is something of an oasis in an otherwise hot region thanks to the cooling influence of the Atlantic wind which is captured by a local mountain range. The expert viticulturalist and winemaker have now applied this maxim across Portugal – selecting only the best sites blessed by cool breezes for their refreshing, structured wines.