In 2020, Rita Marques of Conceito Vinhos and Marc Kent founded Companhia de Vinhos Invencível. The two winemakers, who had already worked together in South Africa (2015-2017) and Portugal (2018/2019), decided to embark on a larger joint project and acquired an estate in Casais do Douro. Their main focus was on the fascinating vineyards of this estate, which include mixed-planted plots up to a hundred years old. This traditional cultivation method, known in German-speaking countries as "Gemischter Satz," was also used in Portugal to avoid the susceptibility to diseases in monocultures. The discovery of these old vineyards was particularly significant due to the outstanding age of the autochthonous Portuguese grape varieties.

Companhia de Vinhos Invencível now produces three distinctive wines: a white and a red wine, as well as a refreshing Vinho Verde. These wines lead off the beaten path into undiscovered regions, are distinctive in character, and bear witness to high artisanal quality. Furthermore, the labels of the wines are inspired by Portuguese history, making reference to the mythical figure of Adamastor and the battles of the Portuguese Age of Discovery.

Rita Marques is at the helm of Conceito Wines in the Douro Valley in Portugal and is the face and soul of this brand. With her own label, which she founded in 2005, she uses grapes from her mother Carla Ferreira's plots and achieves impressive results. Rita has gained valuable experience, including through her collaboration with Portuguese wine legend Dirk Niepoort and through studies in Bordeaux as well as work experience in California and other wine-growing regions. The Conceito range produces about 120,000 bottles annually from four of its own vineyards in the Teja Valley, all of which are organically managed. Rita prefers an early harvest to preserve the freshness of the grapes. In the cellar, she consistently follows a philosophy of non-intervention. Her motto is to produce wines with purity, elegance, and authenticity, which she and her team implement with excellence.

Marc Kent, a graduate of Elsenburg Agricultural College, has significantly contributed to transforming the neglected operation into a top winery since joining Boekenhoutskloof in Franschhoek in 1994. Since 2017, he has also been producing wine in Portugal with Rita Marques of Conceito and founded Companhia de Vinhos Invencível in Casais do Douro in 2020. Kent's focus is on extraction and working with old grape varieties to produce complex and expressive wines. He appreciates large, mature wines and enjoys developing brands with a broad value proposition.

Producer: Companhia de Vinhos Invencível, Rua Central de Mogadouro, EN 222, Casais do Douro, 5130-051 Erverdosa do Douro - Portugal

Grape varieties: Loureiro, Arinto, Alvarinho
Alcohol: 11.5%
pH level: 3.21
Volatile acidity: 0.2 g/L
Total acidity: 6.5 g/L
Free SO2: 32 mg/L
Total SO2: 5 mg/L
Total sugar: 2.5 g/L