When José Roquette acquired the historic Herdade do Esporão estate in 1973, the farm was in ruins. Today, almost 50 years later, it is one of Portugal's leading wineries. José Roquette's recipe for success? Slowness. For example, it took 12 years for Esporão to launch its first wine. «First we do better, then we do more», is the visionary's conviction. If you take that seriously, you need time and patience. That's why the winery's slogan is also «mais devagar», «always nice and slow». José Roquette proves day after day that these are not just nice words: «In the morning, I like to ride my bike around the Herdade and feel at one with everything around me. It's a feeling of belonging to something much bigger», says the 84-year-old. At Esporão, they are deeply convinced that only those who take their time can build a real relationship with their environment and their fellow human beings. In fact, in this large company, there is an unprecedented sense of belonging among the employees. Everyone here pulls in the same direction. The goal: to make the best wines. The motivation: To change the world with it. That Esporão is really serious about how they work, is evident from initiatives such as the «Slow Forward» movement. With this, the winery wants to inspire us to question the «ever faster, ever more» of our present. People and nature should be at the center of what we do. This has been proven to make people happier, according to a study by the University of Lisbon sponsored by Esporão. With its progressive corporate culture and commitment to quality and sustainability, the company has set the best example for other companies.
The label is redesigned every year.
