João Portugal Ramos is one of Portugal’s most influential modern winemakers, widely credited with helping elevate the country’s wine quality and global reputation. Trained as an oenologist, he built his career consulting across Portugal before founding his own projects in Alentejo, the Douro, and beyond. His style blends deep respect for regional tradition with a polished, contemporary approach, producing wines that are expressive, balanced, and unmistakably Portuguese.
A single-vineyard wine, Vinha de São Lázaro owes its name to the small 13th century chapel located in the vineyard that is dedicated to Saint Lazarus, protector of the sick and needy. Vinha de São Lázaro is a 1.5 hectare plot of Touriga Nacional, planted around the walls of Estremoz Castle on a south-facing slope with clay-limestone soil.
Aromas of fully ripe dark fruit with a touch of vegetal and truffles. The fruit is rich and voluminous on the palate, with soft tannins and a long, toasty finish.
Touriga Nacional is a great pairing for any meat dish. In this particular wine, as it is very delicate and full bodied, it is ideal with a lamb tagine, or any variety of matured meats.
94 Wine Enthusiast From fruit foot trodden in open lagars, the wine is powerful with a generous texture. It is an impressive wine, its tannins giving the wine richness. Black fruits are still young, still vibrant, so the wine needs to soften. Drink from 2025.
93 James Suckling This is a chewy and flavorful red with rich layers of dark chocolate, spiced cherries, dried flowers, thyme and toasted lemon peel. Medium- to full-bodied, broad and firm, yet lively and bright too. Drink or hold.
