7. Ramos Pinto
Date of foundation: 1880
Could we make this list without thinking of port wine? No way!
There is a lot of port wine brands filled with tradition, quality and know how that you might recognize: Offley, Cálem, Sandeman, Graham’s, Cockburn’s, Ferreira and much more.
In the early history of port trade, the English were the most influential families in the business, since the English market was the world’s largest consumer of the famous Portuguese nectar. Over the years other nationalities – such as Dutch, Germans and Scots – also prevailed in this trade. The main Portuguese houses were Ferreira, Ramos Pinto and Real Companhia Velha.
If you’re a Friends fan, Ramos Pinto was with you during the 10 years the show has lasted. There was a famous Ramos Pinto poster in Monica’s room, did you notice?
Ramos Pinto was founded in 1880 by Adriano Ramos Pinto, and it soon became an example of innovation and pioneering.
As a result of a careful strategy of modernization of the selection, batch creation, aging and wine research, the labeling and promotion, in the beginning of the 20th century the brand was implemented in the Brazilian market and became responsible for half of the port wine exportations to South America.
In 1990, Ramos Pinto was acquired by the Roederer Group.