The holiday season has arrived, and this month, we have a very special edition of My Portugal, our newsletter series celebrating Portuguese culture through interviews with friends of Portugalia Marketplace. We're excited to introduce our next guest—a familiar face to anyone who has explored our wine selection at Portugalia Marketplace!

André was born on Terceira Island in the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal. Growing up in the village of Biscoitos, he often watched residents bringing grapes to harvest festivals. At age 10, his family relocated to the Azorean island of São Miguel, where they ran one of the island’s top restaurants and where André first developed an interest in Portuguese wine. After attending university, André moved to Fall River to join Portugalia Marketplace, where he has served as our Wine Specialist for the past 10 years. During his time here, André has expanded our inventory to include the largest selection of Portuguese wines in the U.S., with over 1,500 SKUs, focusing on rare and unique bottles, and collaborated with Wines of Portugal to provide educational materials for customers.

While our wine selection is only available for purchase in-store and intrastate shipping throughout Massachusetts, we’re excited to share some tips for exploring Portuguese wine and encourage you to seek out these bottles for an authentic taste of Portugal. If you're located in Massachusetts, be sure to check out our exclusive Wine Club.

Portugalia Marketplace: You grew up in the Azores, where your family operated one of the island’s most acclaimed restaurants. What was it like spending your early years immersed in the culinary world? How did the experience spark your interest in Portuguese wine?

André Ramos: I was very young, about 4 or 5 years old, when my parents ventured into the restaurant business. They owned a simple place in Terceira, Azores, where they mainly served small plates. During that time, my father decided to change career paths and took a job with a company in São Miguel, the island where he grew up. However, the restaurant scene there was quite dormant, with nothing particularly exciting happening.

My parents always loved entertaining. Our kitchen at home was constantly filled with enticing aromas, and my mother delighted in experimenting with new cuisines and exploring dishes from other parts of Portugal—not exclusively Azorean. Eventually, someone they knew was looking for someone to take over a restaurant they owned on the north side of the island, in a small town called Ribeirinha.

They began introducing new dishes and, most notably, the concept of sharing smaller plates. Their menu featured a variety of appetizers, and while they kept a few staple dishes, they were always innovating and quickly gained traction. They decided to remodel the restaurant, making it warm and inviting, and renamed it “O Gato Mia.” 

At home, being part of a large family with four siblings, meals were always lively. In Portugal, meals are traditionally accompanied by wine, and my parents enjoyed trying new wines and discussing them with friends and family. Naturally, I developed a curiosity about Portuguese wines and began exploring the country’s diverse wine regions.

I only started helping at the restaurant at a later age. By then, my father had started a new restaurant in Ponta Delgada, so I began assisting my mother and sister at the other restaurant. I discovered that I truly enjoyed serving tourists, as they were always eager to hear detailed explanations about the food and wine.

PM: After attending the University of Aveiro, you moved to Fall River to begin working as the Wine Specialist at Portugalia Marketplace. What was it like moving from Portugal to the United States?

AR: When my wife finished college, Portugal was going through a severe recession, and opportunities were scarce. We decided to join her family in the United States. While I had never imagined myself living outside of Portugal, I was curious to experience life abroad. Living in Fall River, however, can sometimes feel very much like living back home—with one key difference: the Portuguese immigrants here maintain cultural traditions from an earlier era compared to where I come from.

Initially, this cultural gap was almost overwhelming for me, but I eventually found it fascinating how they had preserved traditions so closely. I was also fortunate to be given a great opportunity at Portugalia. It allowed me to build something almost from scratch, as the Benevides family had no history of selling wines at their previous location. When I started at Portugalia, the store had only been open for a year at its current location.

Our customers are always seeking new experiences and are eager to learn not only about Portuguese wines but also about the culture. This gives me a great sense of pride and makes me feel like I am exactly where I’m meant to be.

PM: In your ten years at Portugalia, you’ve expanded our wine portfolio to over 1,500 SKUs, specializing in stocking hard-to-find bottles from regions such as Colares and Bairrada. How do you go about sourcing these rare wines?

AR: Initially, the wine section wasn’t organized in any particular way. The only distinction made was separating Portuguese wines from those of other countries. I began by organizing the wines by region, following the setup commonly used in stores throughout Portugal.

We started by gradually sourcing what was available from distributors across the state. Over time, we found an abundance of wines from well-known regions and producers, such as Alentejo, Douro, and Vinho Verde. However, we noticed a significant shortage of wines from lesser-known regions, such as Colares, Bairrada, or even the Azores.

While we don’t source anything directly from Portugal, we often explore distributors outside Massachusetts to find unique and niche selections. Additionally, we collaborate closely with our suppliers, suggesting products we believe are of exceptional quality and would appeal to our customers.

PM: You’ve traveled a great deal throughout Portugal to meet with vintners and tour top-producing vineyards. Are there any emerging trends in Portuguese wine that you’re particularly excited about?

AR: There are two things in Portugal that excite me greatly. First, the producers who, despite market pressures to adapt, have preserved challenging-to-grow grape varieties—Terrantez in the Azores, for example—or continue traditional methods like producing wine in talhas (amphoras). Second, the winemakers who create wines that truly reflect the terroir and traditions of their regions, and intervene as little as possible with production methods and embrace sustainable farming practices.

PM: Is there a certain Portuguese wine varietal that you feel should be more well-known?

AR: I feel that, overall, Portuguese wine is still underappreciated. Most people know very little about it, and because of that, they often base their perception of Portuguese wines on a single experience, not realizing the incredible diversity the country offers.

For example, while wines from Alentejo are widely consumed in Portugal, I feel they remain relatively unknown in this market. Alentejo is a vast region with so much to explore, offering a fascinating mix of traditions. There are producers who use ancient techniques and native grape varieties, as well as those who incorporate French varieties and modern winemaking methods. The region's diversity is further enhanced by its varying climates, from warm, dry lowlands to cooler, high-altitude areas, making Alentejo an incredibly complex and intriguing wine region.

AR: Papa Figos from Casa Ferreirinha in the Douro is an excellent wine for anyone new to Portuguese wines. Made with traditional Douro grape varieties and without any oak, it highlights the region’s character with fruit aromas of berries and balsamic notes while remaining fresh and approachable.

Alvarinho is another favorite of mine for those just starting to explore Portuguese wines. It helps to show that Vinho Verde is more than just light, bubbly whites. This grape variety produces aromatic white wines that are rich on the palate, with vibrant acidity and minerality.

Finally, Dona Maria Grande Reserva Red is a standout choice—while it may not be an everyday wine due to its price and complexity, it’s a bottle that can convert anyone to Portuguese wines. It’s as lush and rich as it is structured, with firm tannins, balanced acidity, and a wonderfully complex, long finish.

AR: I’m at the store most of the week and always available on Saturdays to talk about the different wine regions and provide recommendations. Feel free to stop by or reach out to me via email at andre@portugaliamarketplace.com. Additionally, Wines of Portugal is a great resource for learning about the various regions and some of the more well-known grape varieties.

I recommend pairing this Portuguese staple with a white wine from Northern Alentejo, Portalegre, like Quinta da Fonte Souto White 2021.

 

Cheese is everything for me. I like to serve it for dessert. I love Serra da Estrela paired with a Madeira wine. I really enjoy an aged Verdelho, like a 2010 Blandy’s Verdelho, however a Boal will be more approachable. The West India 10 year Boal will surprise everyone.

 

Chocolate is also a great way to finish a good meal or just to extend the night. Chocolataria Equador has a great range of Chocolates, from high percentage of cacao or milk chocolate. For me the Chocolataria Equador Dark Chocolate with Walnuts and an aged Tawny Port, like Dow’s Colheita 2007 is also a great dessert.

 

And, of course, you always need olive oil! I really enjoy Monterosa Verdeal or Carm. This is a must if you're doing the traditional Bacalhau com todos (Boiled codfish with vegetables) for Christmas eve.