Carla Tiago’s Journey: From Biochemistry to Mastering Kopké’s Centuries-Old Port House

Carla Tiago’s path to becoming Kopké’s lead winemaker is a tale of passion, family history and a love for making wines. Originally from Peredo dos Castelhanos, Portugal, Carla grew up surrounded by her father’s vineyards but decided to pursue a degree in biochemistry.

In 2005, she interned at Sogevinus and realized she was ready to pivot to winemaking after working a harvest in Douro. That led to another harvest and then working on the still wines for the company. But she had some big shoes to fill at the oldest Port wine house in the world, dating back to 1683.

A Look at Kopké”s barrel room, Photo courtesy of Kopké

History

The Grapes of Kopké, Photo courtesy of Kopké

Kopké was established in 1638 by German diplomat Nicolau Kopkë and his son Cristiano and originally was named Nicolau Kopké and Company. It stayed in the family for generations until it was acquired in the late 19th Century to the Bohane family. In 1952, the Barrros Company, another Port wine company, acquired the property. In 2006, it was acquired by the Sogevinus Group where Carla’s story begins.

Originally Kopké was a wine trading company but transitioned to winemaking in 1922 after purchasing Quinta de São Luiz Vineyards.

Carla’s Involvement

In 2007, Carla joined Kopké as the winemaker at Quinta de São Luiz, responsible for making the estate’s Port and Douro wines. You would think that continuing the