In SOGRAPE’s history the 1980s was the decade that saw the greatest changes since its foundation. It could be said that the company was reborn in those years, in response to the changes that were taking place both domestically and world-wide. Major issues were developing for Sogrape, at both family and corporate level. Following a complex deal for the acquisition of more than 50% of the Group’s shares, SOGRAPE’s new Board, made up of Fernando van Zeller Guedes (d. 1987), Bernardo Joaquim do Carmo, Fernando Guedes, José Augusto Malheiro Barbosa da Silva Domingues and Gastão Lopes Correia da Silva, instigated a complete transformation of the Ccompany. In spite of the fact that MATEUS ROSÉ was going through a period of growth in the Middle East at the start of the 1980s, elsewhere in the world the decline of the anchor brand’s commercial dynamism was inexorable. This eventually drove SOGRAPE’s modernisation and led to the need to adjust to the new market conditions. The most significant aspects of this corporate strategy were based essentially on the diversification of investments in other sectors, on the creation of a corporate quality image and on organisational modernisation, with resource rationalisation and qualification processes, as well as on the focus on new wine regions and on new wines. A strategy was implemented to build the SOGRAPE name into that of a global company in the world of wines, known for its portfolio of quality wines from the main Portuguese wine-producing regions – Dão, Vinho Verde, Bairrada, Douro and Alentejo. These wines were joined at the end of the decade by Port, the Portuguese wine with international prestige. In order to expand its wine estate holdings SOGRAPE invested hugely in the study, selection and planting of quality Portuguese vine varieties, as well as in the building of modern wine-making facilities. It also started actively supporting university research in the fields of biotechnology, viticulture and oenology. This investment culminated, in 1980, in the purchase of the remarkable Quinta de Azevedo, in the Vinho Verde Region, and ensured an outstanding presence in one of the main Portuguese wine regions. In 1984 GAZELA was launched and the first QUINTA DE AZEVEDO was introduced in 1990. The Quinta de Azevedo estate includes a magnificent manor-house, built in the 11th century, extended in the 16th century and totally rebuilt by SOGRAPE. Apart from the beautiful house, the quality of its vineyards, wine centre and production are exceptional, the hallmark of the region. Investments in the Dão region were made at the end of this decade, mainly involving wine-production and the building of the modern wine centre at Quinta dos Carvalhais. The planting of new vineyards using regional top-quality vine varieties also got under way, in a project that has revolutionised the history of viticulture in the Dão. In the Bairrada region important investments were made which made possible the launch of new table wines under the TERRA FRANCA brand. In 1987 SOGRAPE took a bold step, strongly reinforcing its presence in the Douro Demarcated Region, with the acquisition of the prestigious A. A. Ferreira SA company (with the brand FERREIRA for Port and CASA FERREIRINHA for Douro wines), thus gaining a foothold in the Port business, as well as consolidating its DOURO DOC position. With FERREIRA, SOGRAPE also gained a presence in the brandy market, with the Constantino brand. Today, more than 250 years after the company’s founding, FERREIRA is market leader in Portugal. Set up by Douro wine-growers, FERREIRA is considered to be the quintessential “Portuguese brand” and a fundamental reference in wine culture and in the Douro Region. FERREIRA has a remarkable heritage with the magnificent Quinta do Porto, Quinta do Seixo, Quinta do Caêdo and, the more recent Quinta da Leda, vineyards. It is in the latter, a unique and high-quality vineyard situated in Côa National Park, that the legendary Barca Velha is produced. It is the pinnacle of Portuguese wine-making and the symbol of highest-quality wines made in the Douro. At the end of the 1980s SOGRAPE was the clear leader among Portuguese wine companies, a true representative of the diversity and quality of the country’s wine heritage.