HOW DID YOUR JOURNEY IN THE WORLD OF WINE BEGIN? IS THERE ANY MOMENT OR MENTOR THAT HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT IN YOUR CAREER?
CARLOS RAPOSO: I REALIZED MY CONNECTION WITH NATURE FROM AN EARLY AGE. MY FATHER HAD A FARM AND I LOVED SPENDING MY TIME THERE. IT WAS THEN AT THE AGE OF 16 THAT I STUDIED OENOLOGY AND VITICULTURE AT THE CVR BAIRRADA SCHOOL.
IN 2011, WHEN I RETURNED TO PORTUGAL, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET DIRK NIEPOORT AND START WORKING WITH HIM. HE WAS AND STILL IS A VERY SPECIAL PERSON FOR ME. AT COLLEGE I LEARNED HOW TO MAKE GOOD WINES, WITH DIRK I LEARNED HOW TO MAKE AUTHENTIC WINES .
WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO CREATE YOUR OWN WINE BRAND AND HOW DOES IT REFLECT YOUR IDENTITY AS A WINEMAKER?
CARLOS RAPOSO: LIFE IS MADE OF DREAMS, AND AS SUCH, STAGE BY STAGE AND AFTER WORKING WITH THE BEST AND GAINING EXPERIENCE, THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO HAVE MY OWN WINE COMPANY, IT IS ALWAYS A DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS STEP, BUT LUCKILY IT WENT AND IS GOING WELL.
WHICH PORTUGUESE GRAPES DO YOU BELIEVE HAVE THE MOST POTENTIAL TO SURPRISE CONSUMERS OUTSIDE PORTUGAL?
CARLOS RAPOSO: RUFETE, A RED VARIETY, IS A VERY ELEGANT, FRESH VARIETY WITH UNPRECEDENTED PRECISION.
BARCELO WHITE A VERY OLD GRAPE VARIETY FROM THE DÃO WITH HIGH FRESHNESS AND ACIDITY AND GREAT AGEING POTENTIAL.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU FACE IN YOUR SEARCH FOR EXCELLENCE AND AUTHENTICITY IN WINE PRODUCTION?
CARLOS RAPOSO: I STRONGLY BELIEVE IN NATURE AND THE WAY IT “OFFERS” US THE RAW MATERIAL. WITH THE EXPERIENCE WE ARE GAINING, IT IS INCREASINGLY CLEAR TO ME THAT IF WE HAVE A GOOD GRAPE, 80% OF THE WORK IS DONE, THE OTHER 20% IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINEMAKER, NOT TO SPOIL IT…
HOW DOES THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABILITY INFLUENCE YOUR DECISIONS IN THE VINEYARD AND WINERY?
CARLOS RAPOSO: FOR ME IT'S NOT A CONCEPT, IT'S A LIFESTYLE!
YOUR APPROACH AS A WINEMAKER IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE APPRECIATION OF TERROIR . WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO CAPTURE THE ESSENCE OF A TERROIR IN A WINE?
CARLOS RAPOSO: IF WE RESPECT THE VINEYARD AS A WHOLE, WE WILL HAVE A REFLECTION IN OUR BOTTLE, IF WE RESPECT THE ESSENCE OF THE GRAPE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, THE WINEMAKER ALMOST DOESN'T NEED TO TOUCH IT, JUST MONITORING AND GUIDING.
WHAT DO YOU THINK CONSUMERS ARE LOOKING FOR MOST IN WINE TODAY? HOW DOES THIS IMPACT YOUR WORK AS A WINEMAKER?
CARLOS RAPOSO: AUTHENTICITY… CONSUMERS ARE TIRED OF DRINKING WINES THAT ARE VERY SIMILAR, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE FROM DIFFERENT REGIONS AND TERROIRS.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU FACE WHEN CREATING WINES THAT STAND OUT IN TODAY’S COMPETITIVE MARKET?
CARLOS RAPOSO: MY MAIN CONCERN IS TO ALWAYS MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF OUR PRODUCTS.
IT IS DIFFICULT TO MAKE A GREAT WINE, BUT IT IS EVEN DIFFICULT TO LAUNCH SEVERAL REFERENCES EVERY YEAR WITH EXCELLENT QUALITY.
IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE A SINGLE WINE FROM YOUR CAREER SO FAR TO TELL YOUR STORY, WHICH WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
CARLOS RAPOSO: IT WILL BE THE IMPERFECT 2018 WHITE OF THE IMPERFECT WINES, IT MARKED THE BEGINNING OF MY PERSONAL PROJECT AND IT HAS ALREADY PROVED AND CONTINUES TO PROVE THAT IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST WINES I HAVE MADE TO DATE.
WHAT IS THE HIGHEST COMPLIMENT ONE OF YOUR WINE COULD RECEIVE FROM SOMEONE WHO TASTES IT?
CARLOS RAPOSO: IT'S SIMPLY, THAT SOUND WHEN YOU PUT WINE IN YOUR MOUTH... "HUMM"
