During Roman times, wine production in the region of Bairrada (Portugal) was very important and clay amphorae were used to store and transport the wine. The truth is that the name Bairrada (clay) describes the main component of the soils of this area and, therefore, it is normal to find archaeological remains of clay amphorae with which wine was made and transported in ancient times. Inspired by this Roman legacy, Filipa Pato and her husband Willian Wouters have opted for clay amphorae and, consequently, for the micro-oxygenation of wine.
It is from this decision that wines such as Filipa Pato & William Wouters Post-Quercus Baga are born, a single varietal whose name "Post Quercus" (After the Oak Age) refers to a new stage where oak is no longer the protagonist, giving way to clay. Grown from different plots of 80 year old baga vineyards, biodynamic agriculture is carried out and the grapes are harvested by hand at the optimum moment of ripening. In the cellar, the grapes are selected and partially destemmed and then fermented in 500–700 l amphorae with very little extraction and a long maceration on the skins. The wine remains in these amphorae for 6 months. The porosity of the clay creates micro-oxidation, i.e. a technique that allows the wine to breathe and oxygenate naturally. This process helps to soften tannins and improve colour stability.
With the winery's starting point being the production of authentic wines with no frills, Filipa Pato & William Wouters Post-Quercus Baga discovers the possibilities of the native baga variety, a local grape from Bairrada that, following in the footsteps of its ancestors, turns out to be pleasant and pure.