Founded in 1258 by King Afonso III, Alentejo is known for its culture, hunting and its rich gastronomic tradition. In the very heart of the Alto Alentejo, the soil consists of schist and limestone clay soil; this in addition to the continental climate creates an ideal condition for exceptional wine growing.

This was the location chosen by João Portugal Ramos to make his own wines, after being the most influential consultant winemaker in southern Portugal for the last 15 years. He has worked with both cooperatives and estates, guiding them towards more modern winemaking, with emphasis on low yields, preserving fruit flavors and occasional oak ageing.

João began planting his own vineyards around Monte de Caldeira in 1990 choosing the double cordon for vine spacing. Since then the area has grown with the prime objective of obtaining a selection of grapes capable of producing exceptional wines. For the reds, the chosen grape varieties have been Aragonês, Trincadeira, Touriga Nacional, Castelão and Alicante Bouschet as well as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Verdot, and Merlot, although in smaller quantities. For the whites, the chosen grape varieties are Antão Vaz, Arinto, Roupeiro, and Rabo de Ovelha. In the cellars, the wines are aged in small oak barrels for the appropriate maturation period prior to bottling, an aging regime which is varied to suit the character and objectives set out for each wine.