Comenda Grande was started by Maria José de Almeida Margiochi, who comes from a long line of distinguished Alentejo grape growers. Her grandfather was José Maria Eugénio de Almeida (of the Fundação Eugénio de Almeida) and her father Francisco Simões Margiochi, was one of the most celebrated Portuguese farmers of the 19th century.

This estate was one of the prime properties of the Margiochi family. It was inherited by Maria Madalena de Noronha and her husband João de Noronha and carries on today under the guardianship of their daughter Maria de Lourdes S.A. de Noronha Lopes and her husband António Lopes and their children. Accompanying the agricultural reconversion of the Alentejo, their 750-hectare property has seen considerable investment. Irrigation has been installed in some parts of the estate and wooded areas have been increased – particularly, cork oaks.

Taking advantage of an area that formerly grew grain, they decided to reinitiate the family tradition of grape growing and have planted 30 hectares of vines in separate blocks, each containing a different grape variety, as well as a modern olive grove of approximately 30 hectares.

The vineyard comprises 25 hectares of red grapes, primarily the traditional Alentejo Trincadeira and Aragonez and 5 hectares of whites, mostly Arinto and Antão Vaz. A lesser proportion of Alfrocheiro, Tinta Caiada, Alicante Bouschet, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah red grapes are included as are some Verdelho whites. These particular varieties have been selected to differentiate their wines.
The careful selection of the varieties and the strict control of every stage of production, together with the use of the most appropriate modern winery technology, allow us to “determine” the style of our wine, a wine that bring out the elegance and harmony of both variety and terroir and that meet the demands of today´s consumers.

Our winemaking team was set up by Professor Colaço do Rosário and engineer Francisco Pimenta who have crafted wine of outstanding quality and distinction. The result was Comenda Grande White that shows the exuberant fruitiness of the Verdelho and Antão Vaz grapes, tempered by the refreshing Arinto. The Comenda Grande Red has the deep colour lent by Alicante Bouschet, with notes of ripe fruit and raisins which point to the Trincadeira and Aragonez varieties. Ripe tannins conferred by oak ageing enrich the whole.

In exceptional years, the Comenda Grande Reserva Red is made – a blend of varieties that performed especially well in that particular year. It is matured in 1,000-litre French oak vats intended to harmonize the whole and confer a distinct personality – a robust wine, concentrated yet highly elegant – that brings out the best features of perfectly mature grapes.

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