Jose Maria da Fonseca

José Maria da Fonseca is a family-owned Portuguese wine producer that was established in 1834. The estate takes its name from its founder, José Maria da Fonseca, and is known for its broad portfolio of table and fortified wines from around the country, in regions like Setúbal Peninsula, Alentejo, Douro, Dão and the Vinho Verde zone.

The estate released its first wine, Periquita, in 1850, making it one of the first bottled red wines in Portugal. The Periquita Original is a Castelão-predominant blend with smaller quantities of Trincadeira and Aragonẽs (Tempranillo). These grapes are sourced from the sand-rich vineyards of the Setúbal Peninsula, a region where José Maria da Fonseca is thought to have been the first to plant Castelão. Today, the Periquita brand makes white, rosé, reserva and superyor expressions, each with their own unique blend of grape varieties.

Alongside Periquita, José Maria da Fonseca is well known for its Lancers wines, headed by the Lancers Rosé. This wine was originally released to the US market in 1944 by Henry Behar who named the brand after a painting by Velázquez called "Las Lanzas".

José Maria da Fonseca's extensive range of wines is produced at its Fernando Soares Franco winery. The 6.5 million-liter capacity facility is home to 513 vinification tanks, as well as traditional presses that date back to the early 20th Century. The wines produced here are bottled and shipped to more than 70 countries around the globe.