“My passion for wine is genetic, as I am preceded in my family by eight generations of French winemakers. During my childhood in France every day after school and before my homework I itched to be picked up by my father, Joseph Bouchard, co-director of the prominent Bouchard Père et Fils winery in Burgundy, to accompany him on his inspection of the pruning, planting and harvesting of the family's 200 acres of Grand Cru and Premier vineyards.

All school holidays were spent working in the vast family-owned forests in Burgundy, Nevers, Allier and Vosges. Led by my mother's father and in the company of two older brothers, we walked for miles and miles to evaluate trees for the anticipated oak harvest. Today, I work with five French cooperages as a worldwide exporter of small oak barrels, and in the family winemaking tradition, I make fine Porto and table wine at Quinta do Tedo with enologist Jorge Alves.

One day in 1978 my uncle, Claude Bouchard, director of the family firm, introduced me to Mr. Robert Mondavi during one of his educational tours in Burgundy. Mr. Mondavi easily convinced me to come to California to study wine marketing. Not only did I follow his recommendation, but I did even better by later marrying a Californian, Kay Steffey, a specialist in Italian wine whom I met at the International Pinot Noir Celebration in Oregon. Together we have transformed our dreams into reality and today produce superb Portos and Douro table wines from Quinta do Tedo.

After first visiting Portugal's Douro Valley with my wife Kay in 1989, we saw a great opportunity for rehabilitating an old Class A Vineyard and pursuing our vision of producing a world class Port. During the following three years I hiked all over the Alto Douro, Porto's finest appellation, going up and down steeply terraced domains to visit all the maintained and abandoned vineyards and wineries. I met adorable and helpful locals - and all the mean dogs. Luckily: "No Trespassing" signs do not exist in Portugal.

In 1992 we finally decided upon a Quinta that answered all our demands. The purchase of Quinta do Tedo included 35 acres of vineyard, 22 acres of olive and fruit trees, one winery, two large houses, breathtaking vistas and, of course, a donkey.

My grandfather Antonin Bouchard, seventh generation winemaker at Bouchard Père et Fils, told me repeatedly that "wine is made first in the vineyards with the grapes and second during vinification. After that it's too late, as the wine already has its own character." He compared wine to a teenager - the character during aging can smooth out or increase, but the dominant traits will never change.
My grandfather himself had a very strong Burgundian character that never changed, and I do remember it well, at my own expense, during my younger years. Today, I apply my grandfather's invaluable recommendations to make the most balanced wine possible, by respecting the fruit, its flavor, aroma, sweetness and delicacy. I honor the wine's effect on the palate and on the finish, and ensure that all is in harmony.

Only Porto and table wine made from the finest quality grapes, selected by myself and enologist Jorge Alves, and controlled by the Instituto do Vinho do Porto, will be bottled by Vincent Bouchard and sold under the name Quinta do Tedo."

Vincent Bouchard