Jose Maria da Fonseca
Quinta da Bassaqueira 2925-901 Vila Nogueira de Azeitão Region: Douro Phone: +35 1 212197500 Fax: +35 1 212197501 Internet: www.jmf.pt
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The founder of this, one of the largest wine-producing groups in Portugal, was José Maria da Fonseca (1804-1884). His father had made his fortune in the tobacco trade, and purchased a wine estate for his son close to Azeitãjo (40 km south of Lisbon) in what is now the DOC Setúbal. The son started building a large winery there in 1834. He introduced new techniques, such as wider spacing between the vines, and introduced the Castelão Francês grape from northern Portugal. He planted this variety on a vineyard site known as Periquita. The wines produced from this site were extremely sucessful, so that the variety soon became known all over Portugal by the name of the vineyard, and was widely spread. He also created a new blend for Moscatel de Setúbal, which was already made at the time, including new, more acidic varieties. Today, Fonseca is the leading producer of this sweet dessert wine. A further priority was that Fonseca became one of the first in Portugal, other than the Port producers, to bottle his wines. José Maria da Fonseca ran the wine estate for 50 Jahre, and in 1857 received the highest medal in Portugal in honour of his achievements from King Pedro V. (1837-1861). In 1944, the famous rosé wine Lancers was created by the fifth generation of the family, in the shape of António Porto Soares Franco (there had been a predecessor in 1937, known as Faisca, which is considered to bet he first Portuguese rosé). The first white wine was launched on the market in 1945. Today there are two totally separate Fonseca companies, which both have their headquarters in Azeitãjo. They are José Maria da Fonseca Successores and J. M. da Fonseca International (there is no connection with the port wine house of Fonseca-Guimaraens in Vil aNova de Gaia). The latter company is mainly focussed on the production of Lancers, a large share of which is exported to the USA. In addition, a wide range of wines is produced from both indigenous and international varieties. The first-mentioned company is currently run by the seventh generation of the Fonseca family, currently in the persons of the brothers Antonio (president since 1986) and Domingos Soares Franco (head of production since 1980). António is a graduate of the University of California in Davis. The property now covers a vineyard area of more than 1.000 hectares. The company owns vineyards, wineries and wine estates in, among others, the DOC regions Alentejo (D´Avillez and José de Sousa estates), Dão and Palmela. The wide range of products includes red and white wines made primarily from indigenous varieties (Alvariñho, Arinto, Bastardo, Espadeiro, Loureiro, Monvredo, Periquita), which are marketed either as varietal wines, or in some cases are blended with a little Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay. Wine labels include Garrafeira CO (Periquita with some Tinta Amarela), J. P. Vinhos (João Pires, before being acquired), Quinta da Bacalhôa, Quinta de Camarate (Cabernet Sauvignon and Periquita), Primum (50% each of Touriga Nacional and Touriga Francesa), Tinto Velho (made from indigenous varieties sourced from the José de Sousa estate) and Terras Altas.

The vintage 2008
Unfortunately, no wines have been submitted for several years now, so that we are unable to form a meaningful opinion on the current performance of this producer. For this reason, we see no option but to suspend the classification until further notice.
The vintage 2004
Alentejo
Red wine, Montado, VR Alentejano
	Full description	Request-Form	Very good (81)
The vintage 2002
Alentejo
Red wine, José de Sousa, VR Alentejano
	Full description	Request-Form	Very good (81)
Douro
Red wine, Domini
	Full description	Request-Form	Very good (83)
VR Terras do Sado
Red wine, Periquita
	Full description	Request-Form	Very good (83)