Some wines turn heads. Others make history.
This year, Revista de Vinhos has awarded its prestigious Wine of the Year title to Luis Pato’s Pé Franco das Valadas 2020—a strikingly pure and terroir-driven expression of ungrafted Baga from the sandy soils of Bairrada. For those who have followed Pato’s relentless pursuit of excellence, this recognition is hardly a surprise. Rather, it is a defining moment for a grape, a region, and a winemaker who has spent his career proving that Baga belongs among the world’s great varieties.
And at Da Gama Wines, we are proud to have the 2018 vintage of this extraordinary wine as part of our portfolio—available now through our online shop for those who want to experience this benchmark bottle firsthand. Only 292 bottles of this vintage...
A Wine Rooted in Tradition, Elevated by Innovation
Luis Pato has never been one to follow trends. Instead, he has worked tirelessly to redefine Baga, pushing past its once-rustic reputation to reveal a grape capable of grace, longevity, and finesse.
The Pé Franco das Valadas 2020 is the ultimate testament to that vision. It is a wine that speaks not just of variety and vintage, but of vineyard and roots—literally. The Pé Franco designation means that these vines grow on their own original roots, untouched by the phylloxera epidemic that reshaped European viticulture in the late 19th century.
The result? A wine of unfiltered purity.
A Pure, Unfiltered Expression of Baga
From the very first swirl, the wine commands attention. A deep yet translucent ruby hue hints at both concentration and finesse. The nose unfolds with a compelling interplay of wild red berries, dried rose petals, bergamot, and earthy undertones—a spectrum of aromas that shift and evolve in the glass. There is a cool, mineral precision, almost saline in nature, that immediately sets this apart from more rustic expressions of the grape.
On the palate, it is both linear and layered, energetic yet profound. The structure is unmistakably Baga—firm, fine-grained tannins gripping the edges, while a piercing acidity lifts the mid-palate, carrying flavors of pomegranate, sour cherry, dried orange peel, and subtle tea leaf bitterness. There is a quiet but undeniable power here, a wine that builds and echoes long after the last sip.
Why Pé Franco Matters
What makes this wine truly unique is in its name—Pé Franco. In a world where most vines are grafted onto phylloxera-resistant rootstocks, the sandy soils of Valadas allow these vines to grow on their own natural roots, untouched by the disease that reshaped European viticulture. This gives the wine an almost primal intensity, a sense of Baga in its most authentic and unaltered state.
The Verdict
Luis Pato has always pushed boundaries—whether through unyielding dedication to Baga, experiments with different wood barrels, or the pursuit of purity in winemaking. With Pé Franco das Valadas 2020, he did not stop at making a great Baga. He went the extra distance and defined it.
This is a wine that demands patience but rewards contemplation. It is a wine for those who appreciate structure, minerality, and the thrill of tasting history in motion. While already compelling, it will age gracefully for the next three decades, softening while gaining even greater depth and nuance.
For those who seek the truest expression of Baga, or simply a bottle that speaks eloquently of place and time, this is not one to miss.
A Defining Moment for Baga
Winning Wine of the Year is no small feat, but in many ways, it feels like the natural culmination of Luis Pato’s life’s work. For decades, he has challenged perceptions of Bairrada, proving time and again that Baga, when handled with care and precision, can achieve levels of complexity and age-worthiness rivaling the world’s most esteemed reds.
