José Maria da Fonseca Winery
The José Maria da Fonseca winery from Azeitao on the Setúbal peninsula, Portugal, is internationally regarded as Portugal’s traditional winery. Founded in 1834, wines were already being exported all over the world in the mid-19th century.
The region’s best-known wine is the noble sweet Moscatel de Setubal, a dessert wine of the highest quality produced by José Maria da Fonseca.
Increasingly, dry wines are also being grown in the region.
It processes its own grapes from a total of 650 hectares on four estates spread across Portugal. The portfolio includes more than 30 brands under which the estate’s wines are marketed. Of these, Periquita has been in existence for 150 years and is the oldest wine brand in Portugal.
“Sustainability has been part of José Maria da Fonseca’s DNA for many decades. The FAIR’N GREEN certification gives us a perspective for the continuous development of our sustainability ambition by giving us access to a community of companies that share best practices. We are entering an ecosystem that is crucial for our continuous learning and improvement.”
– Antonio Maria Soares Franco, CEO JMF
“Sustainability has been part of José Maria da Fonseca’s DNA for many decades. The FAIR’N GREEN certification gives us a perspective for the continuous development of our sustainability ambition by giving us access to a community of companies that share best practices. We are entering an ecosystem that is crucial for our continuous learning and improvement.”
– Antonio Maria Soares Franco, CEO JMF
Philosophy
The José Maria da Fonseca winery is a pioneer in its sector and was awarded quality certification in 1996 and food safety certification in 2012.
Caring for the environment and implementing innovative and sustainable practices are reflected, for example, in the consistent reduction of water consumption. To this end, new targets are defined every year to improve the environmental quality of our own wastewater treatment plants. The José Maria da Fonseca winery has also been FAIR’N GREEN certified since 2021.
The José Maria da Fonseca winery was a pioneer in drip irrigation, which was introduced in 1993 and is now standard in national viticulture. Also since the 1980s, it began to avoid mobilizing the soil and maintain a vegetation cover that retains moisture, which benefits the flora, fauna and biodiversity, which consequently implies a lower water requirement in the vineyards.
Philosophy
The José Maria da Fonseca winery is a pioneer in its sector and was awarded quality certification in 1996 and food safety certification in 2012.
Caring for the environment and implementing innovative and sustainable practices are reflected, for example, in the consistent reduction of water consumption. To this end, new targets are defined every year to improve the environmental quality of our own wastewater treatment plants. The José Maria da Fonseca winery has also been FAIR’N GREEN certified since 2021.
The José Maria da Fonseca winery was a pioneer in drip irrigation, which was introduced in 1993 and is now standard in national viticulture. Also since the 1980s, it began to avoid mobilizing the soil and maintain a vegetation cover that retains moisture, which benefits the flora, fauna and biodiversity, which consequently implies a lower water requirement in the vineyards.
CONTACT
Weingut José Maria da Fonseca
Quinta da Bassaqueira
Estrada Nacional 10,
2925-511 Vila Nogueira de Azeitão
Setúbal, Portugal
+351 (0) 212 – 19 75 00
info[at]jmf.pt
www.jmf.pt
Image: José Maria da Fonseca