QUINTA DOS VALES
EARLY YEARS
Quinta dos Vales as it is known today was founded in 2007 by Karl Heinz Stock, a recently-retired banker and real estate developer who wanted to bring his 2 passions together, wine and art. Throughout his life sculpting, principally with stone, was one of his favourite activities, and having lived in Portugal since 1996 he quickly fell in love with its wine as well. The target was simple, he wanted to produce the best wine of the Algarve. From the beginning the business model was clear, art and wine would be produced with no compromises, any decision of quality vs quantity would always be decided in favour of quality. And in order to allow this uncompromising (and economically damning approach) he would subsidize these 2 loss-making sectors with wine-tourism. Events, wine tastings and accommodation can be operated as very profitable business sectors, especially in a region such as the Algarve, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.
THE HERE AND NOW
Having reached QDV's target, in 2017 it was time for a new challenge. The timing couldn’t have been better, as in 2015 one Stock became two, when Karl Heinz’s son, Michael, joined the team, where he now holds the position of Real Estate Director. Quinta dos Vales was never planned as a family business, but it is such a fascinating and multi-faceted project that the offspring couldn’t resist. Now the 2 generations of Stocks manage the various activities and developments of Quinta dos Vales, working side by side and always striving to create something new. Finding a new challenge wasn't difficult, with 'The Winemaker Experience' the goal was simple. We wanted to give wine-lovers the chance to authentically make their own wine, without having to dedicate 10 years of their lives and invest millions into the endeavour. Basically, we structured a package as if Karl Heinz Stock (15 years ago) was our target audience, someone who has a passion for wine and wants to not just put his name on a bottle but also take every single decision in the winemaking process. In order to reach as many people as possible we offered 4 different versions of the project, from an introductory teaser (Bottle Blending Workshop) all the way to the full experience (Own a Vineyard).
