The Galician group Carrís is reinforcing its commitment to the wine sector with the launch of the Socalcos da Carrís brand, a project dedicated to the production of DOC Douro wines, originating from Balsa do Douro, in the parish of Desejosa, in the municipality of Tabuaço. Started in 2008, the investment aims to “enhance the viticultural potential of the Alto Douro wine region and assert the quality and uniqueness of the wines from this region among national and international consumers”.

Under the responsibility of Juan Viñas, businessman and head of the Carrís Hotels Group, the project "reflects a commitment to the connection between two complementary worlds, hospitality and wine, with the ambition of bringing the identity of the Douro to new markets and contributing to the international projection of Portuguese wines".

The vineyards of Socalcos da Carrís are located in Balsa do Douro, in traditional terraces on schist soils, benefiting from the characteristic climatic conditions of this region.

Technical expertise and partnership in production

The wine production is carried out in partnership with Quinta da Carregosa, which is responsible for the technical support of viticulture and the winemaking process at its facilities. This collaboration ensures the monitoring of the vines throughout the vegetative cycle and the control of the different stages of production, from the reception of the grapes to the preparation of the wines for bottling.

The winemaking is overseen by Jorge Alves, who is responsible for defining the wine profile and providing technical support throughout the winemaking process. The connection between the project vision, knowledge of the vineyard, and the production experience of Quinta da Carregosa is a central component of the identity of Socalcos da Carrís.

“The challenge was to find the balance between expressing the characteristics of the schistous soils of the estate in Desejosa and the wine profile that best corresponds to the preferences of consumers in international markets, particularly the American market. These are wines designed to preserve the identity and origin of the Douro, but with a profile adjusted to consumers who usually prefer lighter, smoother wines with a more pronounced perception of sweetness. Therefore, we sought to work on the expression of the grape varieties and the characteristics of the terroir in order to create accessible, balanced wines adapted to these markets, without losing the connection to the territory from which they come ,” explains Jorge Alves, winemaker at Socalcos da Carrís.

From the Douro to international markets

Internationalization represents one of the main pillars of the brand's development. The United States, Brazil, and Spain are among the priority markets, in a strategy that seeks to broaden the recognition of the wines and bring the Douro identity to new audiences.

In the United States, the brand already has a commercial presence through distributors in Miami, namely International Wine & Spirits and Wine41, and is also available in restaurants such as Old Lisbon Restaurants, Casa Xabi, and Xixón Spanish Restaurant. In Portugal, the wines can be found at Garrafeira Supergaia in Vila Nova de Gaia and Garrafeira Napoleão in Lisbon. The connection to the Carrís Hotels Group adds a business and international dimension to the project, supported by the group's experience in the hospitality sector and its ambition to promote Portuguese wine heritage abroad.

The wines

The brand's portfolio includes several references. Socalcos da Carrís Petite Branco and Tinto have a retail price of 11 euros, while Socalcos da Carrís Espumante is available for 12,50 euros. Socalcos da Carrís Colheita Branco and Tinto are priced at 20 euros, and Socalcos da Carrís Touriga Nacional at 60 euros. The range also includes Socalcos da Carrís Centennial Vines, a special edition of four bottles presented in a wooden box, priced at 800 euros.