Born in Porto in 1962, Miguel's enthusiasm for oenology goes back to childhood. Accustomed to spending weekends and vacations in the family's fifth wineries, when it came time to choose a career he had two options in mind: Medicine or Enology. Having chosen the second, the future winemaker left in 1980 for Bordeaux, France, where he studied for 7 years, having obtained the National Winemaker Diploma, a degree in Biochemistry and Cell Biology and a Master's Degree in Enology and Ampelology. In 2012 he enriched his training with an MBA in Business Administration and Management.
When asked what his favorite wine will be within the Mateus range, Miguel Pessanha has difficulty deciding on one particular: "Everyone has their moments, flavors and aromas. And they all share the great passion that I dedicate to them in every harvest! ", He says.
One of its other great passions is the sea and the practice of sailing of competition, with several participations in European and world championships.
Working for Sogrape Vinhos since 1988, Miguel Pessanha started by actively collaborating in the process of diversifying the Company's entire range of wines through the Vinhos Verdes, Douro, Bairrada and Alentejo regions, which at the time was very focused on Mateus Rosé. in 1999 assumed, the Oenology Direction of the Mateus range and the Herdade do Peso wines in the Alentejo. A few years later, in 2007, he was responsible for coordinating the oenology and viticulture teams of the company, as a result of his solid technical knowledge and organizational and leadership capacity, which he assumed exclusively from 2012 onwards and led him to the Administration of Sogrape Vinhos, in 2014, with responsibility for the oenology, viticulture and supply chains.
If in time his main mission was to renew the strength of the legendary Mateus Rosé and keep his profile consistent, today the position of Miguel Pessanha is even more challenging! His role as Administrator has the clear objective of raising the prestige and recognition levels of Sogrape Vinhos' offer to higher levels, without ever letting go of the crown jewel, that wine that made the company born and that is renewed every step of the way. Producing Mateus is, among all the functions of Miguel Pessanha, the one he likes best and fills it more! "It's truly challenging! Especially nowadays, with several proposals of distinct profiles that are the result years of experience transformed into wines of great quality and flavor. "
