A Burgundy Native in the Douro

Les Echos, Number 6, March 2001, Série Limitée (Limited Series)

With the purchase of Quinta do Tedo in 1992, in the heart of the Douro, Vincent Bouchard was getting back to an old family tradition: the vineyard! Despite settling in California a few years ago, he did not escape his destiny. Vincent's name means a lot in Burgundy: Bouchard as Bouchard Père & Fils is one of the most prestigious wine merchants in Burgundy. Spending his childhood in the middle of vineyards and today importing French Oak barrels to the United States, the temptation of becoming a winemaker was irresistible. But why choose the Douro (an area that also produces table wines with ever increasing quality)? For two reasons, the first is the affordable cost of the vineyard land and labor, much lower than in the United States or France. The second is falling in love with the Douro region on a trip in 1989. Vincent now spends his time between California and Portugal where he oversees with passion and interest the evolution of his wines. Favoring big wines, he prefers Ruby and Vintage Portos over Tawny. With the winemaking gods on his side, nature has given him two exceptional harvests since 1992: the 1995 and 1997 harvests that were declared Vintage years by the Porto Institute. Mainly distributed in Canada and in the United States, where they have received numerous prizes, Quinta do Tedo is now coming to our market.