Thyro was born as if out of an act of love, in the small village of Barrô, on the banks of the Douro River, more precisely on the estates of Quinta de Vilarinho and Quinta da Enxertada, in São Martinho de Mouros, fruit of the tenacity of Maria Teresa Vieira Cardoso, the mother of João Lopes. The story is one of preservation of origins, memories and desires, all of which are reflected in every detail of the brand Thyro. Maria Teresa had retired, and her son decided to give new purpose to the family estates. Initially dividing his time between the frenzied city life of Lisbon and the challenging life of the countryside, João finally decided to settle in the latter in 2019. The lands of this grandfather, Mário Cardoso, were once again occupied and inhabited, thereby fulfilling their purpose of preserving the family heritage.
In this way, a new generation has committed itself to cementing what has already been built and new projects have been launched and dreamt up. Children’s laughter is once again heard in this land of wonder. New crops were planted at Quinta da Enxertada, primarily focused on blueberry. A house was built to welcome the newcomers, the farm has been improved, and the Thyro catalogue has grown and new products will soon follow.
The wine production in done in an integrated way and the blueberry farming is organic, completely respecting the surrounding landscape, people, and customs. Our wines are youthful and contemporary, with as little intervention as possible, and always respectful of the local Terroir. After ten years of producing only white and rosé wines, as well as a late harvest wine, in 2018 we started working on our first red wine, which is due to arrive on the market at the end of 2020. Other wines will follow shortly, always with the aim of meeting our customers’ desires and offering them the best that the region has and that we are able to.
With the blueberries we produce jam and a vinegar that is unique in its taste and completely different from anything else available on the market. We also make honey from our small apiary located between Quinta da Enxertada and Quinta de Vilarinho. Moreover, we produce olive oil in Mirandela, the hometown of Roger, João’s father. It is in his honour that all Thyro products have a strong connection to art and culture, namely in the poetry and painting on the labels, in the short poems on the corks, and in the surrealist accents that can be found throughout the branding, and which act as reminders of Roger’s presence and legacy.
The name Thyro itself recalls and connects João’s parents: the TH for Teresa joined by the Y to the RO for Roger. In fact, this is a project that was born from an ambition to do something well and made to last, dignifying our ancestors and honouring our descendants. With love and dedication guided by imagination and boldness in the right measure, we intend to follow this path with which we identify, never betraying our ideals and giving our best, with the intention of always heeding the poet’s cry:
A while ago in this place
Where today the woods are dressed in thorns
The voice of a poet could be heard crying
“Traveller there is no path to follow,
The path is made by walking…”
António Machado
Sometimes a rainbow of joy illuminates the house,
It is João who arrives with stars in his pockets and questions in his heart
Roger Lopes
Sometimes something challenges and surprises us,
It is Thyro bursting and the feeling overflowing
João
