A Cork in the Road Episode 107 - Portuguese Winemaker Filipa Pato, LIVE at Dom Beijos in Atlanta
This episode features our live audience in-person recording with winemaker Filipa Pato from Portugal. Thanks to Bon Vin Selections, we set up this recording at Dom Beijos in Kirkwood, a wine shop that specializes in showcasing Portuguese wines in the heart of Atlanta. Her passion for the indigenous grape varieties of the Bairrada appellation of Portugal is what led her to start her own project in 2001. She works with a total of 12 hectares of vineyards utilizing biodynamic farming practices and minimal-intervention winemaking. Alongside her husband, she says they produce "vinhos autênticos sem maquilagem" – Authentic Wines Without Makeup. We opened some sparkling wine, said cheers to the crowd, and then talked about this focus on and passion for indigenous Portuguese varieties. One in particular, the Baga grape, has become the cornerstone of her work in the region, and we talk about how she adjusts her farming and her approach to winemaking that allows for these grapes with strong Portuguese identity to truly shine. We also have a surprise mic visit from her husband, Belgian sommelier and restaurateur William Wouters, who was the former head chef for the Belgian national Soccer team during the World Cup in Brazil. He shares some insight on what it’s like to visit them in Portugal and how he approaches wine pairing in the kitchen with these native grape varieties. Their collaboration and teamwork is inspiring, and they bring such a joy to exploring the world of wine during their travels. Filipa has a background as a Chemical engineer, but she then refined her winemaker skills doing harvests in Bordeaux, Mendoza, Argentina, and Australia as well as learning alongside her father, Luis Pato, who made his first wine in 1980 showcasing pure Baga with exceptional quality and catching the attention and intrigue from the broader wine industry. Together, Filipa and William share all their experiences: the love for food and wine, encounters with great wine growers, sommeliers and wine lovers from all over the world, and the magical, inexhaustible culture of the world of wine. Today, Ois do Bairro is the center of their wine universe. You can follow @filipa_pato on Instagram learn more about their wines by visiting www.patowouters.com.
Recorded June 1, 2023 LIVE at Dom Beijos
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This episode was made possible by Bon Vin Selections and former podcast guest, Steven Meir, along with generous support from Melissa and Justin of Dom Beijos who provided the perfect recording space for this live audience event.