A leading family-owned wine company in Portugal recognized for Excellence in Technology and Business Leadership
Sogrape has just won the National Innovation Award in the Web 3.0 (Technologies) and Large Companies (Size) categories. This recognition reflects the company’s ongoing effort and dedication to the wine industry, highlighting its commitment to accelerating innovation in the wine sector by introducing new approaches and disruptive value propositions.
The National Innovation Award, organized by Negócios, BPI, and Claranet, in partnership with ANI—the National Innovation Agency—and COTEC Portugal, aims to recognize and encourage innovation in Portugal; this year’s edition saw a record number of 146 applications.
In the Web 3.0 (Technologies) category, Sogrape stood out with the “Sandeman & Douro Metaverse Experience” project, a truly pioneering initiative in the sector that uses advanced technologies to offer visitors an immersive and interactive experience. Visitors to the Sandeman Cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia are virtually transported to the historic Quinta do Seixo, Sogrape’s flagship estate in the Douro region, where Sandeman Port Wines are produced. Participants can explore the iconic spaces and learn about the tradition of Port wine in an innovative and engaging way. Additionally, the technology used allows the experience to be accessed from anywhere in the world, provided the user has virtual reality equipment and access to the space.
Meanwhile, in the Large Companies (Scale) category, the National Innovation Award was awarded by jury nomination, recognizing Sogrape’s significant contribution to the national and international business landscape. This award underscores the company’s ongoing commitment to operational excellence and strategic innovation, strengthening its position as a leader in the wine sector.
“At Sogrape, we pride ourselves on knowing how to combine tradition with innovation, daring to innovate in a sector that remains traditional. This balance between preserving our history and embracing the future is something that truly sets us apart. We are extremely proud to receive the National Innovation Award in two such prestigious categories,” says André Campos, Director of Strategy, Innovation, and Transformation at Sogrape. “Sogrape’s entry into the Metaverse through the Sandeman brand is a clear example of our commitment to innovative solutions for the challenges we face every day, creating disruptive and memorable experiences for our visitors and consumers. “We work every day to prepare Sogrape for the future at the highest level, and being recognized with this award proves that we are on the right track, at the forefront of the industry,” he emphasizes. Sogrape remains committed to driving innovation as a source of transformation and sustainability for its business and the wine sector, constantly seeking new ways to improve its operations across the entire value chain, enhance the consumer experience, and create a positive impact on the wine industry and society, including the launch, in 2023, of its own venture capital fund to help accelerate the sector’s most disruptive projects.
About Sogrape
Founded in 1942 by Fernando Van Zeller Guedes, Sogrape was created to showcase the quality of Portuguese wines to the world. From a winery in the Douro region focused on producing Mateus Rosé, this family-owned company has gone global, with a presence in over 120 markets, and today owns more than 1,600 hectares of vineyards spread across Portugal, Spain, Chile, Argentina, and New Zealand.
Driven by the purpose of bringing friendship and happiness to all those with whom it interacts through its great wines, the family spirit and high-performance team culture at Sogrape are key to the path to success it has been building for over 80 years.
Under the leadership of Fernando da Cunha Guedes, current President and representative of the third generation of the founding family, this leading Portuguese company aims to spread “Sograpiness” around the world and establish itself as a catalyst for positive social change, respecting the planet’s limits as it builds a more sustainable and inclusive future.