The Douro Boys’ spirit lies in representing family companies rooted in the region they so notably promote. Since the 1stof January 2021 Cristiano van Zeller continues his uninterrupted work and participation, with Van Zellers & Co., as a founding member of the Douro Boys, while Quinta Vale D. Maria will no longer integrate the Douro Boys. Quinta Vale D. Maria will continue to be developed by Aveleda (owned by the Guedes family) integrating their global mission of promoting various wine regions in Portugal. In this context, a continuation of Quinta Vale D. Maria in the Douro Boys, considering the very essence of this group, ceases to be pertinent.
The five members of the Douro Boys went from an old idea to reality in 2003. The group was founded by five families, represented by Dirk Niepoort (Niepoort SA), Miguel and Tomás Roquette (Quinta do Crasto), Francisco Ferreira and João Ferreira Álvares Ribeiro (Quinta do Vallado), Francisco and Luisa Olazabal (Quinta Vale Meão) and Cristiano van Zeller (Quinta Vale D. Maria and Van Zellers & Co.).
Each family has centuries of history and experience producing, promoting and selling Port Wine and, since the middle of the 20th century, pioneering the dry wines of the Douro.
The Douro Boys have set themselves a clear goal: enabling the dry wines of the Douro to achieve a level of recognition appropriate to their inherent quality, and to position them on an equal footing with Port. And thus, embarked upon this path of putting the Douro Valley where it belongs on the world wine-map, they’ve not ruled out the positive effect that they will have on the image of Portuguese wines in general.
They have been working with united efforts, organizing joint presentations, seminars and tastings, all concentrated upon relating the story of their heritage. Their wines are unquestionably considered to be among the best in all of Portugal—this factor has made a not-insignificant contribution to the success of their endeavour…
Do great minds think alike? Absolutely—especially when passionate and talented winegrowers are involved. Since 2003, five wine producers from the Douro Valley have been working together on one common goal: supplementing their famous port wines with top-quality reds and whites, to show the world the incredible potential of this special valley.
Douro Boys
Douro Valley
Portugal
