Husband and wife duo, Pedro Marques and Sónia Raposo, launched Las Vedras in 2019 and quickly became one of Portugal’s most exciting natural wine projects. The name translates to “the old ones,” in honour of the old vines they rescued, but also of the “Torres Vedras” region they call home.

Located on the edge of the Atlantic ocean, just north of Lisbon, Pedro and Sonia farm 2.5h of old local varietals such as Castelão, Tinta Miúda, Fernão Pires and Malvasia Rei, on clay-limestone soils. The 40-80 year old vines are flanked by stone pines and orchards, adding to the biodiversity of the area. The Atlantic breeze, sun exposure, vegetation and composition of each plot—Pero Negro, Portela do Bispo, Barro, and Dois Portos—brings a distinct personality to their wines and celebrates regional heritage.

Their winemaking philosophy is simple: chemical free farming, spontaneous fermentations, slow traditional basket pressing, long macerations, minimal to no sulfur additions and long bottle aging, all allowing their terroir to shine. The Atlantic influence is evident, imparting a distinct saltiness and iodine rich quality to their whites and a lifted vibrancy to their reds.

This meticulous philosophy culminates in wines that are precise, mature, and delicately balanced, capturing the genuine expression of each plot. They’re Limo Branco is a stunner, crafted from vines originally planted by the late António Carvalho, and delivers a symphony of flavours like ripe pear fruit, with a delightful salty finish. Their newest red from the Dois Portos plot which they added in 2022, is a vibrant red that sings with notes of kirsch and cherry.

This is Portuguese wine unlike any we’ve tried before and we’re inspired by the future of this region. Look out for their wines on some of Europe’s best wine list (and now Montreal’s). Give them a taste. We promise you won’t regret it.