Meet the Winemaker
Pedro Ribeiro
Herdade do Rocim
Leitao is delighted to present a series of prix fixe 4 course dinner and wine pairing events, offering guests the rare opportunity to meet renowned winemakers behind some of Portugal’s finest wines paired with a bespoke menu from Chef Nuno Sousa.
Tuesday May 13th 8:00 to 11:00pm.
$180 tax & tip included
Meet the Winemaker Dinners at Leitao
These exclusive gatherings will be hosted in Leitao’s intimate cellar space, allowing guests unparalleled access to the winemakers in a truly unique setting.
Chef Nuno Sousa will craft a bespoke menu for each event, thoughtfully designed to complement and enhance the distinctive flavors of the featured wines.
Tickets are non-refundable; however, if you provide at least two weeks’ notice before the event, we can reschedule your booking for a future date. In the case of a medical or other emergency less than two weeks before the event, we may offer a 50% refund in the form of an e-gift card that may be used to dine with us, evaluated on a case-by-case basis. In the event of a no-show, neither refunds, gift card nor rescheduling will be provided.
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Pedro Ribeiro
Pedro Ribeiro was born in Porto on 27 July 1979. He entered the wine industry in 2001, starting with a harvest at Quinta do Noval, a port producer. He earned a degree in Oenology from the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD) in Vila Real, Portugal. He has worked as a winemaker at Hardys Tintara winery in Australia and Sandeman in Portugal. From 2004 to 2013, he served as the winemaker at Herdade dos Grous in Alentejo. Since 2008, he has been a consulting winemaker at Herdade de Medeiros in Alentejo. In 2010, Pedro founded Bojador, a project focused on wines from old vineyards in Southern Alentejo, which he selects and monitors. In 2013, he joined Rocim with his wife Catarina Vieira and serves as C.E.O. and winemaker. In 2021, he started a joint venture with Austrian winemaker Lenz Moser, creating Ribeiro & Moser. At Rocim, he leads the company’s expansion into other wine regions in Portugal such as the Douro, Dão, Lisbon, Bairrada, and the Portuguese islands of the Azores and Madeira.
Herdade do Rocim
Rocim has been operated since 2013 by the skilled winemaking duo, Pedro Ribeiro and Catarina Vieira. The establishment of Herdade do Rocim in 2000 in the Vidigueira sub-region of Baixo Alentejo was initiated by Catarina’s father, entrepreneur José Ribeiro Vieira. Winemaking is a tradition within the family; Catarina’s grandfather produced wine from a small vineyard named Vale da Mata in Cortes, located in the Lisbon region. Following the passing of Catarina’s father in 2012, Pedro joined Catarina to lead the winery, marking their professional collaboration. Since then, Rocim has broadened its reach across Portugal, producing wines from vineyards in Bairrada, Douro, Dão, Vinho Verde, the Algarve, Azores, as well as Alentejo and Lisbon.
Rocim possesses 70 hectares of vineyards in Vale do Rocim, where its winery and cellar are situated, along with 40 hectares nearby in the same Vidigueira sub-region of Alentejo, 4 hectares in the northern zone of the Lisbon region (Vale da Mata), 4 hectares in Dão, and 5 hectares in the Douro. Rocim strategically partners with family-owned estates in various regions to produce wines that epitomize the characteristics of Vinho Verde, Bairrada, the Algarve, as well as the islands of the Azores and Madeira, all while showcasing Rocim’s signature style of fresh elegance.
Although Vidigueira is among the southernmost sub-regions of Alentejo, it maintains a temperate climate due to the influence of the Vidigueira fault. This fault allows colder air to enter from the Atlantic, traverse the flat terrain of Alentejo, before being halted by this hill range. Consequently, Rocim’s vineyards, including those with vines over 70 years old, benefit from cooler temperatures compared to the rest of the region, which is evident in their mineral-rich, cool-structured wines, some with an alcohol content as low as 12%. The estate is undergoing conversion to organic practices, with approximately 80% of the vineyards already certified, and Rocim is also a member of the Sustainability Program of the Alentejo. The vineyards are managed manually, and there is stringent monitoring of water usage both in the vineyards and the modern winery. Constructed in 2007, the winery and cellar feature a wine bar, tasting rooms, shop, panoramic terrace, and amphitheater for concerts and events, making it a popular tourist destination. Events are hosted year-round, with the most notable being Amphora Wine Day established by Rocim in November 2018. This vibrant annual celebration of claypot winemaking attracts numerous Portuguese and international winemakers and culminates in the ceremonial opening of the talhas.
