The Pato family has been making wine at Quinta do Ribeirinho since the 18th century. João Pato began bottling wine in 1970, becoming the first winegrower in Bairrada after its demarcation. His son, Luis Pato, carried on this pioneering legacy, producing his first wine, a rare pure Baga, in 1980.

Luis introduced destemming and French oak aging to Bairrada in 1985 and produced Portugal's first Vinhas Velhas wine in 1988 from ungrafted vines. Over the years, he pioneered single-vineyard wines, left the DOC denomination in 1999, and collaborated with his daughter in 2005. He also developed innovative sparkling wines and the first red from the white Maria Gomes grape.