Compatibility within a couple is a synergy of various elements, such as shared values, mutual interests, parallel ambitions, and proficient communication skills. In the case of Filipa Pato and William Wouters, their fervor for oenology renders them inseparable. At their winery nestled in Óis do Bairro, amidst the Bairrada region of Portugal, this duo harnesses indigenous grape varieties, organic treatments, and time-honored techniques with one definitive aim: to craft authentic wines that truly embody their terroir. This is a challenge they surmount year after year, earning them accolades in the enological sphere.
Evidence of this work ethic is found in Filipa Pato & William Wouters Nossa Tola Branco, a monovarietal of bical sourced from a vineyard poised on a gentle slope atop calcareous soil. A heritage treasure for its unparalleled quality, where the venerable vines (some exceeding 60 years of age) are cultivated biodynamically and hand-harvested in small crates to maintain the grape's integrity. In the winery, the grapes are delicately pressed and the resulting must ferments in traditional barrels with indigenous yeasts. Subsequently, the wine matures for 12 months on fine lees without batonnage, and ultimately, the blend is assembled in tanks for an additional 4 months.
Under the moniker "Tola," in tribute to the vineyard's former owner known for her eccentric nature, Filipa Pato & William Wouters Nossa Tola Branco is a white wine that mirrors the true expression of the terroir and the character of the vintage. An exemplar within the DOC Bairrada that, akin to its creators, owes its uniqueness to the harmonious interplay between fruit and terroir.