2024 · Lisboa Pitau Branco

Hugo Mendes is an independent, self-owned producer based in Alenquer in the Lisboa region, north of Lisbon. Founded in 2016 after Mendes left a career in biomedical engineering, the project reflects a personal, hands-on approach, with Hugo Mendes serving as both owner and winemaker. He focuses on indigenous Portuguese grape varieties and a natural, low-intervention style, aiming for fresh, terroir-driven wines rather than conventional large-scale production. Fruit includes a single vineyard on the Atlantic side of Alenquer, where chalky-clay soils and a sunny, slightly Mediterranean climate shape the wines. No formal sustainability or organic certifications are mentioned.