Born from a long line of farmers, João Portugal Ramos graduated in Agronomy from the Higher Institute of Agronomy. He trained at the Center for the Study of National Wine Station Two Harbors, after which started in 1980, in the Alentejo, the activity of winemaker.
In 1990, the first five hectares of vineyards were planted in Estremoz, where João Portugal Ramos lives since 1988, giving birth to his personal project. The first harvest took place in 1992 and in the years that followed the wine was produced in leased facilities, 1997 being the first year it was vinified in new facilities. Today, the vineyards themselves and long-term agreements with local producers contribute to a total of 500 hectares of vineyards.
The construction of the cellar in Estremoz began in 1997 and was expanded in 2000, is equipped with modern winemaking technology, a bottling room, and a cellar with barrels of French, American, and Portuguese oak, used to stage the wine. In Vila Santa, the modern coexist harmoniously with the best Portuguese wine tradition, and part of lots intended for more sophisticated reds are bruised in mills.
Thus is born in Villa Santa, a powerful red wine, deep color, loaded with aromas of very ripe berries; Marques de Borba, a wine that deserves the attention of the most distinguished connoisseurs and, in exceptional years, Marques de Borba Reserva, the many single-variety wines Vila Santa, as Aragonez, Trincadeira and Syrah which are considered a benchmark in defense of traditional Portuguese grape varieties, or even more recently Loios and Quinta da Viçosa.
This was the place chosen by João Portugal Ramos to make their own wines, being recognized nationally and internationally as a major contributor to the evolution of Portuguese wines in the last two decades.