Herdade do Esporão was purchased by portuguese banker José Roquette in 1973. Soon after, the long dictatorship of António Salazar came to an end and the climate became decidedly cool for a wealthy banker such as José and he fled to Brazil. The estate consequently fell into disrepair and it was not until 1979 that José was able to return and rebuild the estate.

Located in Reguengos de Monsaraz, in the heart of the Alentejo, this is now one of the largest estates in Portugal with over 400 hectares of vineyards. Australian-born David Baverstock, who makes the wines for the Port estates of Quinta do Crasto and Quinta de la Rosa, was appointed as winemaker in 1992 and the property has not looked back since. Baverstock invested José's money in stainless steel tanks, temperature-control equipment and a supply of American oak barrels. "We make wine in a New World way using Old World grapes," he says. The estate's most renowned wine is the Esporão Red Reserve, a subtle blend of Aragonês, Trincadeira and Touriga Nacional, plus a 10% shot of Cabernet Sauvignon for good measure - it is unquestionably one of Portugal's finest dry, red wines.