A house born of a vision.
An enduring vision.
Renowned for its founder’s creative streak, Ramos Pinto created a link between top quality wine and its original, absolutely avant-garde marketing method.
The origin of the House of Ramos Pinto dates back to the 19th century. To a time when Adriano Ramos Pinto and his audacity took the brand to Brazil.
Know our story
Aged only 21, Adriano Ramos Pinto launched a story that has lasted for more than 140 years. As the result of an innovative and pioneering strategy, the young entrepreneur expanded the business to the Brazilian market. Success was almost immediate and by the early 20th century the brand represented half the wines exported to South America, while also creating a market in Portugal and the rest of the world.
The growth of the House of Ramos Pinto was anchored in the modernisation of the methods involving the selection, blend and ageing of the wines. Adriano was also innovative with his creativity in packaging and promoting the wines. His sensitivity and attention to detail led Ramos Pinto in Brazil becoming synonymous with Port wine, a reference of quality.
Adriano Ramos Pinto(1859-1927)
The founder of the House of Ramos Pinto was a young artist. He studied at Centro Artístico Portuense (an art education association, 1880-1893), which had a marked influence on the graphic material used to publicise the House of Ramos Pinto. Adriano also pioneered the creation and offer of the merchandising that accompanied the wines, helping to raise brand awareness.
Young Adriano’s appreciation of the arts and his negotiating capacity explain the rapid exponential growth of the House of Ramos Pinto at the end of the 19th century. With the expansion, Adriano invited his brother, António Ramos Pinto, to join him in the partnership.
António Ramos Pinto(1854-1945)
He promptly accepted his brother’s invitation to join the House of Ramos Pinto, which gave rise to the company now known as Adriano Ramos Pinto & Irmão.
António was put in charge of commercial and financial management, leaving Adriano Ramos Pinto free to carry out the artistic creation and promotion of the wines the company produced.
Raúl Ramos Pinto(1895 - 1981)
In 1918, the company became a private limited company, making it possible for Raúl Ramos, António Cálem and Joaquim Allen to join.
Together, the five made a highly dynamic and experienced team. The shareholders’ determination and combined actions led to the House of Ramos Pinto becoming the market leader in Brazil, while also exporting over 50% of its total Port wine production.
António Cálem(1888 - 1963)
In 1918 the company became a private limited company, making it possible for Raúl Ramos, António Cálem and Joaquim Allen to join.
Together, the five made a highly dynamic and experienced team. The shareholders’ determination and combined actions led to the House of Ramos Pinto becoming the market leader in Brazil, while also exporting over 50% of its total Port wine production.
Joaquim Allen(1872-1953)
In 1918 the company became a private limited company, making it possible for Raúl Ramos, António Cálem and Joaquim Allen to join.
Together, the five made a highly dynamic and experienced team. The shareholders’ determination and combined actions led to the House of Ramos Pinto becoming the market leader in Brazil, while also exporting over 50% of its total Port wine production.
José António Rosas(1919 - 1996)
In 1938, José Ramos Pinto Rosas joined the House of Ramos Pinto. His dedication to viticulture was such that he was eventually considered the “Pope of the Douro”. This acknowledgement came about because of the work carried out to find solutions, such as the mechanisation of the region and an in-depth study of grape varieties to improve production quality.
As company chairman, José António Rosas represented Portugal at the Office International de Vigne et du Vin and was a founding member of the Confraria do Vinho do Porto (Port Wine Brotherhood). In 1982, he created ADVID (Associação para o Desenvolvimento da Viticultura Duriense), a Vine and Wine Cluster he chaired until 1996. He was accompanied on the board of the House of Ramos Pinto by his nephews João Nicolau de Almeida and Ricardo Nicolau de Almeida.
João Nicolau de Almeida(1949 - )
João Nicolau de Almeida, great-grandson of António Ramos Pinto, joined Ramos Pinto in 1976 as production manager.
He was responsible for studying and introducing mechanisation and vertical planting, studying wine varieties for Port and DOC Douro wines using the microvinification methods he had learnt in Bordeaux, studying and selecting rootstocks & scions and vine irrigation, always supported and encouraged by his uncle, José Rosas.
Besides the scientific work performed after 1976, he introduced new vinification techniques at RP for Port wines, particularly vintages. After 1990, by then managing director, he created and established the Duas Quintas DOC Douro wine, followed by Bons Ares in 1992.
João Nicolau de Almeida’s innovations earned him the title of “Man of the Year”, awarded by Wine & Spirits magazine and he was made Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of Vila Real.
José Rosas’ experience, vision and dedication, together with João Nicolau de Almeida’s scientific and technical input strongly influenced the development of the Douro region.
Jorge Rosas(1966 - )
Jorge Rosas (formally) joined the commercial department of the House of Ramos Pinto in 1986. Having worked for three years in France (where he was based in the region of Champagne), Belgium and the United Kingdom, he returned to Porto in 1996 to take over as wine export director at the House of Ramos Pinto. In 2014, he became a director whilst his cousin João Nicolau de Almeida was still managing director. When the latter retired in 2016, Jorge took over at the helm of this famous House, a responsibility that he continues to hold to this day.