Time and stage (in)determined with authentic and genuine aromas without longing for the immediate.
Rodrigo Martins contemplated making the trumpet his professional life. He even managed to reconcile Agronomy and music for a good while, until a Viticulture course aroused his interest in wine. He obtained a Master’s degree in Oenology and has since combined vineyard and cellar in melodious tones. He is organic by redemption, a candidate for biodynamic by conviction. His personal wines, between Óbidos and Alcobaça, show a sincerity and precision that are difficult to achieve.
Rodrigo Martins is the winemaker of projects as diverse as the Alcobaça Cooperative Winery (where he started solo in the profession), Herdade das Fontes Bárbaras (Castro Verde, Alentejo), Herdade do Cebolal (Península de Setúbal), Quinta da Silveira (Vale da Vilariça, Douro), Quinta dos Capuchos (Alcobaça, Lisbon), and Quinta da Várzea da Pedra (Bombarral, Lisbon). He has also been involved in projects such as Serra Oca (Quinta do Olival da Murta, Óbidos, Lisbon) and João Barbosa (Tejo and Alentejo), but as the Espera projects grow in affirmation, the amount of consulting work will tend to decrease.
It was in 2014 that the story of his own wines began to be written. Rodrigo took over small parcels of abandoned old vines and tested the first vinifications. Without label or brand, he took advantage of his wedding, where he served the first trials, to test the creativity of the guests. The suggestions were far from meeting expectations, so the name ended up emerging right in the middle of the vineyard. Rodrigo and Ana Leal, who handles communication and marketing for the project, agreed that Espera would be an easy name to memorize and convey in different languages, also meaning a lot the natural and creative process that is at its origin.
Between his own vineyards and leased parcels, there are five hectares in Alcobaça and almost as many in Óbidos, although not all are yet fully productive.
Rodrigo continues to exclude the use of international grape varieties, arguing that differentiation must be made through the national genetic heritage and preferably regional. He recalls the rainy harvest of 2014, where varieties like Touriga Nacionalwere decimated, while Castelão remained unscathed. In fact, he sees Castelão as the red grape variety of choice for Lisbon, alongside Tinta Miúda, Moreto, and Ramisco, in specific locations. For whites, he bets on Arinto and Fernão-Pires, also giving credit to Bical and foreseeing a greater commitment to Baga soon.
Before the pandemic, the business went through wine cellars and restaurants, but the new reality completely changed the fate of Espera. They are now present in nearly 20 markets, where over 85% of production has been poured.
Rodrigo Martins, whom Revista de Vinhos recently nominated for the “Winemaker Revelation” award, is now one of the most solid and talented protagonists of a new generation. More than that, he is now a logical winemaker. One who knows what he’s doing, one who knows where he wants to go. – José João Santos, in Revista de Vinhos
