António Lança

António Lança was born in what is known as “Monte Velho”, the home of the Lança family in Herdade Grande, who has a strong bond to the agricultural activity and Vidigueira.

From an early age, Antonio Lança demonstrated a great interest in farming, something that his father Eduardo instilled, whom himself was a farmer and the heir of all the tradition learned with Ernesto dos Santos Lança, António’s grandfather who had purchased Herdade Grande in 1920 and established his family there.

The toils of the land, especially the cultivation of vines and olives, always filled the day-to-day of António Lança since the day, as a little child, he climbed on top of the first tractor that the estate had ever seen, or the moment when as a proud owner of a degree in agronomy in the late 70’s, he envisioned the current heritage of vineyards, as well as the establishment of Herdade Grande as a wine brand, which came to be in 1997.

A storyteller graced with a delicious sense of humour paired with a subtle smile, António Lança is the founder of one of the first wine products projects in the Lower Alentejo and the embodiment of the passion for Alentejo, that passes through generations and Herdade Grande celebrates.

Wine Phrases
Taste these texts with a good wine HG!

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1997

“O vinho é depois do sol, de quem é filho, o maior elemento de actividade espiritual sobre o mundo.”
Araújo, Norberto (1952-1988) (Jornalista/ Escritor)

1998

“Um bom vinho(…) sobe-nos à cabeça e seca nela vapores estúpidos, melancólicos e desabridos(…), tornando o entendimento sagaz, vivo e incentivo…”
Shakespeare , William (1564-1613) (Poeta e dramaturgo inglês)

1998

“a good wine (…) rises to our heads and dries up stupid, melancholy and despondent vapors (…), making understanding sagacious, lively and encouraging …”
Shakespeare, William (1564-1613) (English poet and playwright)

1997

“Wine is after the sun, whose son is the greatest element of spiritual activity on the world.”
Araújo, Norberto (1952-1988) (Journalist / writer)

1999

“O vinho (…) dispõe a alma para o Amor desde que não bebido em demasia e desde que os sentidos não estejam embotados por abundantes libações (…)”
Ovídio (43 a.C. -17/18 d.C.) (Poeta Latino)

1999

“Wine (…) disposes of the soul for Love, provided it is not drunk too much and provided the senses are not dulled by abundant libations (…)”
Ovídio (43 a.C. -17/18 d.C.) (Latin poet)

2000

“O vinho (…) é a chave que sem dar volta, abre os corações e solta os pensamentos.”
Frei Rafael (Séc.XVII) (Pregador régio e cronista-mor do Reino)

2000

“The wine (…) is the key that without turning, opens the hearts and loosen the thoughts.”
Frei Rafael (Séc.XVII) (Regal preacher and chief chronicler of the Kingdom)

2001

“Vinho bom em pequenas quantidades, acorda para a vida aquele que, por defeito do coração, está meio moribundo.”
de Serres, Oliver (1539-1619) (Agrónomo e escritor francês)

2001

“Good wine in small quantities wakes up for life the one who, by the defect of the heart, is half dying.”
de Serres, Oliver (1539-1619) (French agronomist and writer)

2002

“Vinho (…) consola os tristes, rejuvenesce os velhos, inspira os jovens e alivia os deprimidos do peso das suas preocupações.”
Lord Byron (1788-1824) (poeta escritor britânico)

2002

“Wine (…) comforts the sad, rejuvenates the old, inspires the young and relieves the depressed of the weight of their concerns.”
Lord Byron (1788-1824) (British poet and writer)

2003

“No vinho estão a verdade, a vida e a morte. No vinho estão a  aurora e o crepúsculo, a juventude e a transitoriedade. No vinho está o movimento pendular do tempo. No vinho se espelha a vida.”
Betsch, Roland (1888-1945) ( Escritor alemão)

2003

“In wine are the truth, life and death. In wine are dawn and dusk, youth and transience. In wine is the pendular movement of time. In wine life mirrors.”
Roland, Betsch (1888-1945) (German writer)

2004

“O Vinho tem o poder de encher a alma de toda a verdade, de todo o saber e filosofia.”
Bosswet, Jacques (1627-1704) (Bispo, pregador e escritor francês)

2004

“Wine has the power to fill the soul with all truth, with all knowledge and philosophy.”
Bosswet, Jacques (1627- 1704) (French bishop, preacher and writer)

2005

“Quem não souber amar a mulher, a música e o vinho, permanecerá tolo toda a vida.”
Luther King, Martin (1483-1546)

2005

“Whoever does not know how to love woman, music and wine, will remain foolish all his life.”
Luther King, Martin (1483-1546)

2006

“Bebam sempre por antecipação e a sede jamais vos atormentará.”
Rabelais, François (1494-1553) (Escritor Francês)

2006

“Drink always in anticipation and thirst will never torment you.”
Rabelais, François (1494-1553) (French writer)

2007

“O vinho alegra o coração do homem e a alegria é a mãe de todas as virtudes! …”
Goethe, Johann (1749-1832) (Escritor, cientista, filósofo e botânico alemão)

2007

“Wine rejoices man’s heart and joy is the mother of all virtues! …”
Goethe, Johann (1749-1832) (German writer, scientist, philosopher and botanist)

2008

“Boa é a vida, melhor é o Vinho! …”
Pessoa, Fernando (1888-1935) (Filósofo, dramaturgo e poeta português)

2008

“Life is good, but the wine is better! …”
Pessoa, Fernando (1888-1935) (Portuguese philosopher, playwright and poet)

2009

“O vinho nas vitórias é merecido, nas derrotas necessário! …” Bonaparte, Napoleão (1769 – 1821) (Imperador francês)

2009

“The wine in the victories is deserved, in the defeats necessary! …” Bonaparte, Napoleon (1769 – 1821) (French Emperor)

2010

“Quem conhece e ama a sua história, deve aprender a conhecer e a amar os seus vinhos.” Toynbee, Arnold (1889 – 1975) (Historiador britânico)

2010

“Those who know and love their history must learn to know and love their wines.” Toynbee, Arnold (1889 – 1975) (British historian)

2011

“O vinho embeleza os campos, exalta os corações, inflama os olhos e, ensina a dançar.” José Ortega y Gasset (1883-1955) (Ensaísta, jornalista e ativista politíco)

2011

“Wine beautifies the fields, exalts the hearts, inflames the eyes and teaches dancing.” José Ortega y Gasset (1883-1955) (Essayist, journalist and political activist)

2012

“ Com o vinho se alimentam as forças, o sangue e o calor dos Homens.” Plínio, o Velho (23 d.C – 79 d.C)

2012

“With the wine, they feed the forces, the blood and the heat of the Men.” Plínio, the Elder (23 d.C – 79 d.C)

2013

“Fazer vinho é uma técnica, um bom vinho é uma arte.” Mondavi, Robert (1913 – 2008) (Operador americano de vinhas)

2013

“Making wine is a technique, good wine is an art.” Mondavi, Robert (1913 – 2008) (American vineyard operator)

2014

“O bom vinho é um camarada bondoso e de confiança, quando tomado com sabedoria.” Shakespeare, William (1564-1613) (Poeta e dramaturgo inglês)

2014

“Good wine is a kind and trusting comrade when taken wisely.” Shakespeare, William (1564-1613) (English poet and playwright)

2015

“O vinho inspira e contribui grandemente para a alegria de viver.” Bonaparte, Napoleão (1769 – 1821) (Imperador Francês)

2015

“Wine inspires and contributes greatly to the joy of living.” Bonaparte, Napoleon (1769 – 1821) (French Emperor)

2016

“No banquete da vida a amizade é o pão, e o amor é o vinho.” Mantegazza, Paolo (1831 – 1910) (Antropólogo e fisiologista italiano)

2016

“In the feast of life, bread is friendship and love is wine.” Mantegazza, Paolo (1831 – 1910) (Anthropologist and physiologist Italian)

2017

“O vinho é depois do sol, de quem é filho, o maior elemento de actividade espiritual sobre o mundo.” Araújo, Norberto (1952-1988) (Jornalista/ Escritor)

2017

“Wine is after the sun, whose son is the greatest element of spiritual activity on the world.” Araújo, Norberto (1952-1988) (Journalist/writer)

2018

“Um bom vinho (…) sobe-nos à cabeça e seca nela vapores estúpidos, melancólicos e desabridos (…), tornando o entendimento sagaz, vivo e incentivo…” Shakespeare, William (1564-1613) (Poeta e dramaturgo inglês)

2018

“A good wine (…) rises to our heads and dries up stupid, melancholy and despondent vapours (…), making understanding sagacious, lively and encouraging …” Shakespeare, William (1564-1613) (English poet and playwright)

Mariana Lança

Insisted on spending every weekend and holidays in Vidigueira, with the grandparents, in Herdade Grande during her infancy and teenage years. The cereals, olive grove, animals and, above all, the vineyard served as a constant inspiration in a way that found it natural to follow in her fathers’ footsteps to have a degree in Viticulture and, afterwards, Winemaking.

Mariana Lança couldn’t be indifferent to the invitation of António Lança, in 2011, to take over the future of the project as general-manager of Herdade Grande. Renewing the commitment and vision of the family in fundamental areas, from sales to marketing, and her main passion, winemaking, where she seeks to honour her fathers’ and grandfathers’ principles. Today, she’s the representation of the fourth generation of the family that arrived at Herdade Grande in 1920.

WINEMAKING.
WINES PRODUCED BY PROFESSIONALS

Diogo Lopes are the winemaker that compose the winemaking team of Herdade Grande. Since his faculty years that he share a strong connection to Alentejo and Herdade Grande particularly.

Mariana Lança

Insisted on spending every weekend and holidays in Vidigueira, with the grandparents, in Herdade Grande during her infancy and teenage years. The cereals, olive grove, animals and, above all, the vineyard served as a constant inspiration in a way that found it natural to follow in her fathers’ footsteps to have a degree in Viticulture and, afterwards, Winemaking.

Mariana Lança couldn’t be indifferent to the invitation of António Lança, in 2011, to take over the future of the project as general-manager of Herdade Grande. Renewing the commitment and vision of the family in fundamental areas, from sales to marketing, and her main passion, winemaking, where she seeks to honour her fathers’ and grandfathers’ principles. Today, she’s the representation of the fourth generation of the family that arrived at Herdade Grande in 1920.

Enologo Diogo Lopes

WINEMAKING. WINES PRODUCED BY PROFESSIONALS

Diogo Lopes are the winemaker that compose the winemaking team of Herdade Grande. Since his faculty years that he share a strong connection to Alentejo and Herdade Grande particularly.

Winemaker | Enólogo

Diogo Lopes

Although he was born in Lisbon in 1978, his Beira roots always connected him to the land. He met an already well-reputed Vidigueira agronomist António Lança while still studying to be a winemaker. He collaborated with Herdade Grande on promoting their wine portfolio while developing a strong empathy for the project and its staff. As if he was returning home, it was with great joy that after 20 years he accepted the invitation from António Lança to take over the winemaking department. On that interval, Diogo Lopes became one of the leading new generation portuguese winemakers. An experimentalist, he stands up for wines that are a true expression from the region where they are born. With a degree in Agronomic Engineering from the Instituto Superior de Agronomia and a PhD in Winemaking from the Escola Superior de Biotecnologia da Universidade Católica Portuguesa, he worked as a trainee in the portuguese wine regions of Douro and Alentejo but also in the Napa Valley (California). He started his professional career next to Anselmo Mendes, precisely in the region of Alentejo in 2005. He is also a consultant to the wine regions of Douro, Lisbon and the Azores.