From new technology to standout blends, a look inside the winery elevating the Algarve wine scene
Up in Algoz, in the municipality of Silves, Quinta do Barranco Longo is not only the largest private wine producer in the region but also the only agricultural company in the Algarve that makes wine, having begun its operations 25 years ago.
Currently, it produces an average of 150,000 bottles per year, a number it aims to double. Seventy-five per cent of its production consists of white and rosé wines, enjoyed in the Algarve and distributed through the winery’s own sales team.
A perfectionist by nature, owner Rui Virgínia aims to create personalised, bold, and high-quality wines to help elevate the Algarve to the premier region for wines.
For his portfolio, Rui chose grape varieties that thrive in the Quinta’s unique terroir: clay-limestone soils and a distinctly Mediterranean climate with abundant sunshine. “The climate of the interior is drier and warmer, but with cool nights,” explains the producer.
“We have greater thermal amplitudes than terroirs near the sea.” His white varieties include Arinto, Chardonnay, Viognier, Moscatel, Sauvignon Blanc, and Encruzado. The reds are Aragonez, Touriga Nacional, Alicante Bouschet, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Sangiovese.
The winery is a well-oiled machine where every detail makes a difference. “Timing and hygiene are essential in a winery,” says the energetic entrepreneur who is always on top of everything. His team is equally rigorous: João Lemos, Rui’s left and right arm, keeps a careful eye on the chemical processes of the operation, together with winemaker Flávia Luz, who conveniently has a degree in Biochemistry.
On the day we visited, Rui and his team were harvesting the Arinto, a variety that yields one of the winery’s most popular single-varietal wines. Work in the vineyards begins at dawn to make the most of the coolest hours for picking grapes. However, the toil continues in the winery too. After being stored overnight in a cooling chamber at 5°C, the varieties used for making whites and rosés are sorted at 6am.
“We only need to remove leaves,” says Rui, explaining that this is because “the vineyard is very well kept”. In just two hours, 15 tonnes of grapes have been sorted and destemmed.
Then, a brand-new Vinimatic 150 imported from France is used to extract the free-run juice – the juice that naturally drains from the crushed grapes due to the fruit’s own weight – before any mechanical pressure is applied; a process that takes approximately three hours.
This juice, the teardrop must, also known as the Tête Cuvée, is renowned for its exceptional quality and clarity. At Quinta do Barranco Longo, it is used to make a premium rosé and in special blends.
For rapid cooling, to preserve grape aromas and colours and to prevent oxidation, dry ice is added to the Vinimatic, creating an inert atmosphere of carbon dioxide. “This is how we guarantee the purity and quality of our wine from the very beginning of the process,” explains Rui. Following this, the must is placed in a press and the juice is transferred into stainless steel vats to ferment before ageing and ultimately being bottled.
Next door to the bustling winery, builders were also busy working on Rui’s largest and most ambitious project to date: a 1500m² state-of-the-art structure shaped like a wine bottle, encompassing an underground cellar, tasting room, a large shop, and a rooftop restaurant designed for wine lovers, curious travellers, and seasoned connoisseurs.
This modern wine tourism setup will allow visitors to explore Quinta do Barranco Longo’s extensive portfolio, which currently features 20 labels with fun and fresh designs. You will not find any Negra Mole here; it does not suit Rui’s profile or terroir. His bestseller is a Rosé (€11.49), a blend of Touriga Nacional and Aragonez, which has become emblematic for the producer.
Some of the winery’s highlights include the Grande Escolha white (€12.49), a blend of Arinto and Encruzado, which Rui believes are the best white Portuguese varieties, producing an elegant and fresh wine with citrus and tropical notes and delightful acidity, and the single varietal Arinto 2024 (€13.49), a complex, creamy, and enveloping wine with mineral notes reminiscent of flint, green apples, and citrus hints of lime, and excellent acidity.
A touch of local history is blended into a now iconic regional wine: the Remexido Branco 04 (€46.95), a blend of Arinto, Chardonnay, and Viognier, named after José Joaquim de Sousa Reis, a renowned guerrilla fighter born in the Algarve in 1796. This aged wine exhibits intense minerality with saline and iodised notes, along with elegant tannins. It is an engaging wine with a long-lasting sweetness.
As for the reds, the Colheita Selecionada 2021 (€13.99) stands out as another highlight made with Cabernet Sauvignon, Alicante Bouschet, and Syrah. It is a very appealing and fresh red with notes of cherries, chocolate, and spices.
A pioneer in the Algarve, Rui Virgínia was also the first to produce sparkling wine, the Quê Rosé in 2005, made with Touriga Nacional.
The current edition, the Quê 4 Espumante Rosé Reserva Bruto Natural (€17.95), is a light-bodied sparkling wine with just 11% alcohol. Packed with red berries, it reveals excellent acidity and freshness.
Being ahead of the curve also involves leading sustainably, something the Algoz producer has been striving for. Where tradition meets innovation, with a deep respect for the true essence of wine, Quinta do Barranco Longo is the first and only wine producer in the Algarve, so far, to achieve the Sustainability certification in the Wine Sector. In 2025, the winery introduced the Arinto 2024, its first wine to carry the official certification seal.
“This is a 100% Algarve wine, produced solely from our vineyards and showcasing the best of our terroir. More than just recognition, this seal underlines our dedication to sustainability, innovation, and excellence in winemaking,” concludes Rui Virgínia.
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