It began many years ago with José Marinho, my maternal grandfather. He was a man of his time, with vision and entrepreneurial spirit, full of dreams and audacity. He was just a young man when he began a great adventure, far from his origins, on the other side of the Atlantic. It was in Brazil that he met Etelvina Alves, the woman who enchanted him and with whom he returned to Portugal. He married and bought Fraguita, a property in the Douro that made him fall in love with wine production. However, life wanted to put some ellipses on his passion… Today, more than a century later, here I am continuing my grandfather’s dream.
The one who became my inspiration and the ultimate person responsible for this project.
A family legacy
This is the story of a family legacy that could very well have been written in the pages of any book or illustrated in black and white photographs. But no! It took time and a few people for my desire to get my hands dirty to gain the necessary strength for me to restart a story and continue an old dream, the postponed dream of José Marinho.
The unique and particular way of life of the people of the Douro, the diversity and quality of what is produced in these lands, and the difficulties experienced firsthand were also an impetus for me to want to make up for lost time and reap the rewards of this dream in my homeland.
“My life project”
The Miss Vitis Wines project has been brewing in my thoughts for a long time, fueling my indomitable desire to continue José Marinho’s dream. The reality I live today, which I could call “My life’s project,” is marked by many episodes of struggle and persistence that culminate in unique moments of happiness. After all, the purest nourishment for humankind is simply the dedication one gives to one’s desires. Therefore, today I know that work and love are two of the most valuable tools I will use to ensure this dream is no longer postponed! The future is not planned, but… it’s inevitable!
Gil Taveira
