Because we were born 150 years apart, we did not have a chance to meet the Baron of Forrester, the British port wine trader who championed the Douro Valley. But we know Abílio Tavares da Silva, another outsider who became one of Douro’s best ambassadors.
Originally a tech entrepreneur, Abílio sold his company in 2000 and retired at the age of 40 to pursue his passion for winemaking. He does not believe in taking shortcuts, so he built his expertise from the ground up by earning an enology degree at the University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro. He also began his search for the ideal vineyards.
In 2004, he acquired Foz Torto, a picturesque estate near Pinhão, close to the confluence of the river Torto with the Douro. Planted with old vines, it offers stunning views of the Douro Valley. Abílio teamed up with Sandra Tavares da Silva, a star enologist, to craft his wines. Despite having the same surnames, Abílio and Sandra are not relatives. But they share a passion for making wines that combine elegance with great aging potential. Their portfolio includes a lavish red from 80-year-old vines and a beguiling white from 40-year-old vines grown in Porrais, 600 meters above sea level.
Abílio describes his winemaking philosophy as simple, yet as he explained his process, we quickly filled a notebook with intricate details. The caliber of his wines reflects not just the superior quality of the grapes but also the meticulous attention to detail that his engineering mindset brings to every facet of production—from managing the vineyards year-round, harvesting the grapes when they reach the perfect balance of sugar and acidity, controlling fermentation temperatures, and choosing the ideal aging processes.
Every August, Abílio helps organize a competition to select the finest heirloom tomatoes in the Douro Valley. This event brings winemakers together and showcases the Douro’s uniqueness. The poor schist soil encourages plants to grow deep roots, resulting in not only extraordinary wines but also exceptional fruits, herbs, vegetables, and olive oil. A few drops of the olive oil Abílio produces at Foz Torto can turn a simple salad into a culinary offering worthy of Mount Olympus.
For us, Abílio is much more than a gifted winemaker. He is a source of inspiration and a role model. When we grow up, we want to be like him.