WHAT MOTIVATED LUÍS TO BECOME A WINEMAKER? WAS THERE A DECISIVE MOMENT THAT INFLUENCED THIS CHOICE?
LUÍS MOREIRA: FROM AN EARLY AGE I HAD A STRONG CONNECTION TO THE COUNTRYSIDE. MY PARENTS HAVE ALWAYS DEDICATED THEMSELVES TO BROUGHT ANIMALS WHILE THEY GREW CORN, POTATOES AND OTHER VEGETABLES FOR THEIR OWN CONSUMPTION. AS FOR THE VINEYARD, WE ONLY HAD A SMALL AREA TO PRODUCE ESSENTIALLY RED WINE FOR HOME CONSUMPTION. MY TASTE FOR VITICULTURE CAME FROM VASCO, THE SON OF SOME FRIENDS WHO ARE LIKE FAMILY.
VASCO, AN AGRONOMIST, OWNED A SMALL VINEYARD AND PRODUCED ALVARINHO WINE IN AN ARTISANAL WAY. THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH HE WORKED ALWAYS FASCINATED ME: THE CULTIVATION OF THE VINEYARD, THE BOTTLING PROCESS IN HIS SMALL WINERY, EVERYTHING WAS INCREDIBLY INTERESTING TO ME. I CLEARLY REMEMBER, FROM A VERY EARLY AGE, DRIVING THE TRACTOR WHILE VASCO AND HIS MOTHER CAME BEHIND TO SULFATE THE VINES. BY THE TIME I WAS 11, I WAS ALREADY ABLE TO PRUNE THE VINEYARD BY MYSELF. THESE AND ALL THE OTHER TASKS RELATED TO VITICULTURE AND THE WINERY WERE NEVER A CHALLENGE FOR ME, BUT A GROWING PASSION.
AT JUST 13 YEARS OLD, I HAD ALREADY DECIDED THAT I WANTED TO BE A WINEMAKER. WHEN IT WAS TIME TO CHOOSE A COURSE, I SELECTED MY FIRST CHOICE: A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN FOOD SCIENCE. I DID IT WITH A CLEAR GOAL IN MIND: TO LATER ON TO A MASTER'S DEGREE IN OENOLOGY AND VITICULTURE. IN THIS WAY, I WAS NOT ONLY PREPARING MYSELF TO REALIZE MY DREAM, BUT I WAS ALSO GUARANTEED A BROAD EDUCATION THAT WOULD ALLOW ME TO WORK IN THE ENTIRE FOOD SECTOR, IN CASE MY PLAN DIDN'T WORK OUT.
HOW DID THE IDEA OF CREATING YOUR OWN BRAND, “BAGAGEM” COME ABOUT AND WHY THE NAME.
LUÍS MOREIRA: ALMOST ALL WINEMAKERS HAVE THE AMBITION OF CREATING A PROJECT THAT REFLECTS THEIR IDEAS AND IDENTITY, AND I AM NO EXCEPTION. THE MONÇÃO AND MELGAÇO SUB-REGION HAS MORE THAN 60 BRANDS, AND I WANTED AND WANT TO CONQUER MY SPACE. DURING THE PANDEMIC I MADE AN IN-DEPTH STUDY OF THE HISTORY OF THE REGION AND CAME UP WITH THE NAME “BAGAGEM” WHICH IS A TRIBUTE TO THE HISTORY OF MONÇÃO, IN PARTICULAR, TO THE MIGRATORY FLOW THAT OCCURRED IN THE 50S TO 70S AND TO THE SMUGGLING THAT DEVELOPED ALONG THE BANKS OF THE MINHO RIVER , WHICH MARKED LOCAL LIFE AND CULTURE.
THE NAME "BAGAGEM" IS NOT ONLY A REFERENCE TO THE PAST, BUT ALSO A SYMBOL OF THE HERITAGE AND STORIES THAT HAVE SHAPED OUR IDENTITY, LINKING THE PRESENT TO THE LEGACY OF OUR LAND...
WHAT IS THE PHILOSOPHY OR CENTRAL CONCEPT BEHIND BAGAGEM WINES? WHAT DO YOU AIM TO TRANSMIT IN EACH BOTTLE?
LUÍS MOREIRA: MY WINES ARE BORN IN THE VINEYARD. IT MAY SOUND A LITTLE CLICHÉ, BUT IT'S THE TRUTH. I'M THE ONE WHO TAKES CARE OF THE VINEYARD FROM PRUNING TO HARVESTING, AND THE SEGUDE PLOT IS SPECIAL, IT'S 1.5 HECTARES, PLANTED IN 2001, AT AN ALTITUDE OF 150M, WITH LOW PRODUCTION AND VERY SLOW RIPENING. IN THE WINERY I JUST TRY TO HIGHLIGHT THE IDENTITY OF THE TERROIR, WHERE 12-HOUR SKIN MACERATION IS ESSENTIAL TO ACHIEVE THIS. STARTING FROM THE SAME BASE I CREATE TWO WINES, BOTH AGED FOR 4 MONTHS ON FINE LEES, ONLY DIFFERING IN THE DEPOSIT (STAINLESS STEEL VAT OR FRENCH OAK BARREL).
BAGAGEM-DE-MÃO AIM TO BE A VIBRANT, FRESH AND UNCOMPLICATED ALVARINHO, MAINTAINING THE TRADITIONAL VARIETAL AROMAS, BUT AVOIDING THE TROPICALITY THAT HAS BECOME A TREND. IT IS A WINE DESIGNED FOR MOMENTS OF LIGHTNESS AND RELAXATION, IT IS ALSO AN EXTREMELY VERSATILE WINE, WITHOUT LOSING THE CHARACTER OF THE GRAPE VARIETY.
BAGAGEM IS A MORE COMPLEX AND DEEP ALVARINHO, A WINE THAT REQUIRES TIME AND PATIENCE TO BE UNDERSTOOD. AS THE TEMPERATURE OF THE WINE INCREASES, IT REVEALS LAYERS OF AROMAS AND FLAVORS THAT SURPRISE AND CHALLENGE THE CONSUMER. EACH BOTTLE IS INTENDED TO BE AN EXPERIENCE, A JOURNEY THROUGH AUTHENTICITY AND THE UNIQUE EXPRESSION OF ALVARINHO.
HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TERROIR OF THE VINHOS VERDES REGION WITH MARKET AND CONSUMER PREFERENCES?
LUÍS MOREIRA: IT IS ESSENTIAL TO KNOW THE VINEYARDS AND CLOSELY MONITOR THE RIPENING OF THE GRAPES IN ORDER TO HARVEST AT THE IDEAL TIME. THIS CARE IS ESSENTIAL TO CREATE A BALANCED WINE, WITHOUT EXCESSIVE ACIDITY OR AN UNDERSTANDING ALCOHOLIC CONTENT. WINE SHOULD BE ENJOYABLE BOTH FOR THE COMMON CONSUMER, WHO IS LOOKING FOR A PLEASANT EXPERIENCE, AND FOR THE MORE CURIOUS OENOPHILE, WHO APPRECIATES THE CHALLENGES AND COMPLEXITIES OF EACH BOTTLE. AND IT IS EXACTLY THIS BALANCE BETWEEN ACCESSIBILITY AND DEPTH THAT I CONSIDER TO BE THE TRUE CHALLENGE AND THE GREATEST REWARD OF A GOOD WINE.
WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST LESSON YOU LEARNED THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER AS A WINEMAKER AND LUGGAGE CREATOR?
LUÍS MOREIRA: THE MAIN LESSON I HAVE LEARNED IS THE IMPORTANCE OF VALUE AND TRUST IN THE PROCESS. GIVING TIME TO BOTH THE WINE AND THE WORK INVOLVED IN IT IS ESSENTIAL. THIS IS A LONG-TERM BUSINESS THAT REQUIRES PATIENCE, PERSEVERANCE AND, ABOVE ALL, THE ABILITY TO FACE CHALLENGES WITH DETERMINATION. ALTHOUGH THE PATH IS FULL OF OBSTACLES, IT IS THIS CONSTANT DEDICATION AND TRUST IN THE PROCESS THAT MAKES EACH STEP MORE REWARDING. TIME IS OUR ALLY, AND IT IS TIME THAT TRANSFORMS DAILY EFFORT INTO A TRULY UNIQUE RESULT.
WHAT ROLE DO YOU BELIEVE BAGAGEM WINES CAN PLAY IN THE GROWTH AND VALUE OF PORTUGUESE WINE ON THE GLOBAL SCENARIO?
LUÍS MOREIRA: WITH MY DIMENSION I AM IRRELEVANT ON THE NATIONAL SCENARIO, BUT WHAT REALLY DRIVES ME IS THE DESIRE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE VALUE OF THE MONÇÃO AND MELGAÇO SUB-REGION. MY FOCUS IS ON CREATING A DIFFERENTIATING BRAND, WHERE THE TERROIR, WITH ITS AUTHENTICITY AND CHARACTER, IS THE TRUE PROTAGONIST. I BELIEVE THAT OUR LAND HAS A UNIQUE IDENTITY, AND MY OBJECTIVE IS TO GIVE IT VISIBILITY, SHOWING THE QUALITY AND UNIQUENESS OF WHAT WE PRODUCE HERE.
WHAT DISHES WOULD LUÍS RECOMMEND TO PAIR WITH BAGAGEM WINES? IS THERE ANY PAIRING THAT YOU CONSIDER IS A MUST?
LUIS MOREIRA: BAGAGEM-DE-MÃO IS A VIBRANT, FRESH AND UNCOMPLICATED ALVARINHO, WHICH STANDS OUT FOR ITS VERSATILITY AT THE TABLE. IT HARMONIZES ELEGANTLY WITH STARTERS, FISH DISHES, SALADS, SEAFOOD AND OTHER OPTIONS, ENHANCES THE DELICATE FLAVORS AND ENHANCES THE FRESHNESS AND TEXTURE OF THE DISHES. WHETHER AT A RELAXED LUNCH OR A SPECIAL DINNER, THIS WINE ADAPTS TO DIFFERENT MOMENTS.
BAGAGEM , WHEN FERMENTED AND AGED IN BARRELS, IS A ROBUST WINE THAT SUPPORTS MORE INTENSE AND COMPLEX DISHES. I LIKE TO OFTEN PAIR IT WITH TYPICAL DISHES SUCH AS "FODA À MONÇÃO", COZIDO À PORTUGUESA OR EVEN WITH DIFFERENT WAYS OF PREPARING LAMPREIA. ITS STRUCTURE AND DEPTH BALANCE PERFECTLY WITH THE RICHNESS AND STRIKING FLAVORS OF THESE DISHES, CREATING A COMPLETE GASTRONOMIC EXPERIENCE. IT IS A WINE THAT NOT ONLY ACCOMPANIES, BUT ALSO ENHANCES THE CHARACTER OF TRADITIONAL RECIPES, PROVIDING A UNIQUE HARMONY BETWEEN WINE AND FOOD.
WINE HAS THE ABILITY TO EVOKE EMOTIONS AND MEMORIES. WHAT EMOTIONS OR EXPERIENCES DO YOU EXPECT PEOPLE TO FEEL WHEN DRINKING A BAGGAGE WINE?
LUÍS MOREIRA: WHEN I DEVISED THE BAGAGEM WINES, MY INTENTION WAS ALWAYS TO CREATE WINES THAT WERE MORE THAN JUST A DRINK, I WANTED THEM TO BE A JOURNEY. EACH BOTTLE CARRIES WITH IT STORIES OF THE TERROIR, THE VINEYARDS, THE WINERY AND EVERYONE WHO HELPED US. I WANT EACH SIP TO TRANSPORT PEOPLE TO THE ESSENCE OF THE MONÇÃO&MELGAÇO SUB-REGION, TO THE AUTHENTICITY OF OUR ROOTS, AND FOR THIS TO BRING THEM UNIQUE EXPERIENCES, MARKED BY PLEASURE AND SHARING.
WHAT ARE THE PLANS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE BAGGAGE BRAND? CAN WE EXPECT NEW REFERENCES OR SPECIAL PROJECTS?
LUÍS MOREIRA: MY MAIN OBJECTIVE FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS IS TO INCREASE PRODUCTION WHILE MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF THE BAGGAGE AND HAND LUGGAGE, WHICH WILL ALWAYS BE THE PILLARS OF THIS PROJECT. A NEW REFERENCE WILL CERTAINLY BE BORN, AS I LIKE TO CONSTANTLY CHALLENGE MYSELF AND THERE IS STILL A LOT TO EXPLORE IN THE SUB-REGION. AT THE MOMENT I AM FOCUSED ON ALVARINHO, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE OTHER GRAPES.
I WANT TO INCREASE THE AREA OF THE VINEYARD, WHICH IS CURRENTLY 2.5 HECTARES, AND MAYBE BE ABLE TO HAVE A SPACE TO BE THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE PROJECT TO BE ABLE TO WORK ON WINE TOURISM. I HAVE NO LACK OF IDEAS, BUT I NEED TO KEEP MY FEET ON THE GROUND AND DO THINGS IN THEIR OWN TIME.
WHAT MESSAGE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE WITH UNCORK WINES CUSTOMERS WHO ARE DISCOVERING OR HAVE ALREADY ENJOYED BAGAGEM WINES?
LUÍS MOREIRA: I LEAVE MY COMMITMENT THAT GUIDES ME IN THIS PROJECT: THE PURITY OF THE GRAPES BECOMES THE ESSENCE OF THE WINE.
I BELIEVE THAT A GREAT WINE IS BORN FROM RESPECT FOR THE LAND, THE TERROIR AND THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE RAW MATERIAL. I WANT THE WINES TO HONOR THEIR ORIGIN, WHERE EACH BUNCH TRANSLATES THE HISTORY OF THE VINEYARD AND THE DEDICATION OF THOSE WHO WORK IT. IT IS THIS COMMITMENT THAT GIVES SOUL AND CHARACTER TO THE WINE, MAKING IT UNIQUE AND TRUE.
