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João Queiroz illustrates the labels for Esporão Reserva and Private Selection 2014
Respected artist João Queiroz was invited to illustrate the labels of the new vintages of Esporão Reserva and Private Selection. These whites are the first wines to enter the market with reproductions of the artist’s original work.
Ever since its very first wine (Esporão Reserva 1985), Esporão has maintained the tradition of personalizing the labels for each vintage, combining the universal culture of wine and art. Now, the eagerly-awaited Esporão Reserva White 2014 and Esporão Private Selection White 2014 have arrived, once again demonstrating the consistency and character of the unique terroir of Herdade do Esporão. To illustrate this year’s labels Esporão invited recognized artist and sculptor, João Queiroz.
“I wanted to depict the organized vineyards, the result of human labor, its complex relationship with the atmosphere, light, land and water and, in the foreground, the memory of the wild vine and its natural behavior”, says João Queiroz.
Maintaining their essential character, the wines demonstrate the characteristics of this particular year, which was distinguished by a humid winter followed by a mild summer, with major temperature variations offering ideal and consistent grape ripening. The viticulture employed involved integrated production based on the rationalization of natural resources and the use of natural regulation mechanisms that contribute to sustainable agriculture and better-quality fruit.
Created by the Esporão winemaking team, made up of Luso-Australian David Baverstock, an important figure in Portuguese wines, and Sandra Alves, who is responsible for Esporão’s white wines, this Reserva and Private Selection boast quite different profiles and philosophies.