{"title":"Hugo Mendes - The Wizard Apprentice | Lisboa","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"Hugo Mendes Collection Banner Artwork\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/files\/HugoMendesCollectionBanner.jpg?v=1706808571\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy the time Hugo Mendes, a.k.a. ‘The Wizard Apprentice,’ graduated in Biotechnology Engineering in 2005, he had fallen hopelessly in love with wine. The same year, he joined Quinta da Murta in Portugal’s Arinto epicentre, Bucelas in Lisboa. Learning on the job, by 2010 Hugo had worked his way up from cellar rat to Head Winemaker and made a name for himself with his The Wizard Apprentice blog.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2016, after dedicating 11 years to crafting wines for others, Hugo decided it was time to pour his creativity into his own brand. With no grapes, no winery and minimal capital at his disposal, he embarked on an audacious journey. He rented a plot in a vineyard, sought the help of a friend’s winery and turned to crowdfunding to fund the bottling process, and successfully launched his debut vintage. The rest, as they say, is history. Hugo earned himself the nickname “The Wizard Apprentice,” and one sip of his wines will show you why.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHis inaugural solo venture featured a captivating blend of Fernão Pires and Arinto whites from the 2016 harvest. In 2019, Hugo introduced the Castelao varietal, marking his first foray into red wine within the project. Since then, he has introduced a diverse range of wines, including this delightful Rosé from the Tejo Region.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn every bottle that bears his name, you’ll discover a journey filled with passion, dedication and a profound respect for the art of winemaking. It’s a testament to Hugo Mendes’ unwavering commitment to crafting wines that tell a unique and compelling story.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"hugo-mendes-castelao-lisboa-red-wine","title":"Hugo Mendes Castelão 2022","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Hugo Mendes Castelão is a rich, ripe and juicy red wine with an irresistible flavour. In the winery the grapes were totally de-stemmed and fermented with natural yeasts in a closed vat. There was frequent reassembly to keep the blanket wet and pressing was undertaken early. Hugo's idea was to leave the wine soft and fruity like the old methods, in order to reveal the true character of the Castelão grape. 20% of the wine was aged for 6 months in wood. Displaying aromas of wild fruits, black pepper and fine spices the finish is long and persistent. [#intro]A rich, ripe \u0026amp; juicy red wine with an irresistible flavour...[\/intro]\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hugo Mendes","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40910004650051,"sku":"A22MENDESCASTELAO","price":23.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/files\/CastelaoRedBt.jpg?v=1706812125"},{"product_id":"hugo-mendes-talha","title":"Hugo Mendes Talha 2021","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Hugo Mendes 'Talha' is a red wine blend of Aragonês, Trincadeira and Tinta Grossa unique to the Portuguese wine region of Alentejo. The winemaking process for a Talha wine is very simple and was implemented by the Romans over two thousand years ago. In the Alentejo region, the technique has been preserved until today, and has been passed down from generation to generation, in an almost immutable way. To make the wine, the grapes are crushed and then are put inside the clay amphorae, or talhas, where fermentation spontaneously takes place. During this period, the grape pulp and skins rise to the surface and form a solid mass. This is punched with a wooden plunger and is pushed back down into the must to transmit more colour, aroma and flavour to the wine. When fermentation is complete, the mass settles to the bottom of the talha where it serves as a filter. Additionally, by law, the wine must remain on skins until at least 11th November (St Martins Day). \"Bright mid crimson. Very, very scented, pure cherry. Beautifully fragrant with both sour cherry and sweet red fruits, plus a light, leafy freshness. Extremely fine tannins – elegant and chalky. So much drinking pleasure. Peppery and scented. Long, too. (Julia Harding, 17 points, JancisRobinson.com)\"[#intro]A beautifully fragrant \u0026amp; elegant red wine made using the ancient Talha process of the Alentejo...[\/intro]\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hugo Mendes","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41370624884803,"sku":"A21HUGOMENDESTALHA-1","price":36.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/files\/TalhaBt.jpg?v=1714576834"},{"product_id":"hugo-mendes-tejo-rose","title":"Hugo Mendes Tejo Rosé 2022","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Hugo Mendes Tejo Rosé is made exclusively from the Touriga Nacional grape. At the winery, the wine remained on its lees until bottling without clarification or filtration. Very pale pink in colour this rosé displays red fruit and floral aromas. The palate is dry and crisp with great volume, freshness and flavour.[#intro]A dry \u0026amp; elegant rosé from the innovative Hugo Mendes that surprises from start to finish...[\/intro]\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hugo Mendes","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56015272378749,"sku":"A22HUGOMENDESROSE-1","price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/files\/RoseBT_11d8b413-520d-47e5-a2c5-b141debdad79.jpg?v=1747241670"},{"product_id":"hugo-mendes-lisboa-tinto","title":"Hugo Mendes Lisboa Tinto 2022","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Hugo Mendes Lisboa Tinto is a Portuguese red wine made from the indigenous Touriga Franca grape variety. Aged in used oak barrels for 12 months the wine is a deep crimson colour with ripe, sweet dark fruit aromas. The palate is rich and juicy in texture, with robust and chewy tannins that complement the core of bold fruit flavors. [#intro]A rich \u0026amp; juicy Portuguese red made from the Touriga Franca grape variety...[\/intro]\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hugo Mendes","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57002856382845,"sku":"A22HUGOMENDESLISBOATINTO-1","price":23.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/files\/LisboaTintoBT.jpg?v=1758705806"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/collections\/Hugo_Mendes_Logo.jpg?v=1706808672","url":"https:\/\/hic.wine\/collections\/hugo-mendes-the-wizard-apprentice-lisboa\/hugo-mendes.oembed","provider":"Hic!","version":"1.0","type":"link"}