António Guedes
Co-CEO
He is part of the 5th generation of the Guedes family in Aveleda, being the son of António Alves Machado Guedes, who also served on the administration of Aveleda from 1964 to 2013.
António was born in Porto, in the parish of Santo Ildefonso, in 1976, but spent all his youth at Quinta da Lavandeira, a house belonging to Aveleda and adjacent to Quinta da Aveleda. Moving to Quinta da Lavandeira was a decision made by António's parents after they got married, at a time when the journey from Porto to Aveleda was still a barrier, so that António's father could be close to Aveleda, where all the grape production, wine making, and bottling operations took place. Alongside Aveleda, offices were maintained in Porto, which, in 1996, were centralized at Aveleda, with the entire business being managed from Penafiel. From an early age, António accompanied his father in everything that happened at Aveleda, from productive investments, structural developments, new vineyards, new brands, as well as all the gardens and people that made up Aveleda. This passion for the land and its people became rooted in António's life, leading him to naturally choose to study Agricultural Engineering. Heading to Vila Real, specifically to the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, António acquired skills in agricultural areas. But it was after completing his degree that António made the decision that would define his future: he went to France, specifically Montpellier, to pursue a master's degree in viticulture and oenology at the SupraAgro school. This was followed by two internships in Bordeaux, which only reinforced what António had already realized: the awakening of a huge passion for wines and the entire world that revolves around them.
Returning to Portugal in 2002, he applied for a position at Aveleda, taking on the responsibility of restructuring the project at Quinta da Aguieira in Bairrada, a estate acquired in 1997. A year later, he assumed responsibility for the entire Viticulture area of the company, and in 2008, he took on the role of director of viticulture and oenology, along with the cheese business. During this phase, António worked with his father and his Uncle Roberto, as well as his cousin Isabel and Francisco, who joined the company in 2005. In 2007, another cousin joined the Aveleda universe, Martim Andresen Guedes, with whom he currently shares the management of the company.
In 2013, the formal transition from the 4th to the 5th generation was made, with Martim and António taking over the management of the company. A new cycle began at Aveleda, always in continuity and respect for the legacy.
Finding the company (and the entire Portuguese wine sector) in full transformation, Martim and António quickly realized that they needed to strengthen the company's human structure, with a management team prepared for the challenges they envisioned for the company's next phases. The growth plan was ambitious, aiming to grow in the original region (Vinho Verde) while also entering new regions. Between 2014 and 2020, the vineyard area tripled from 200 to 600 hectares; in the Douro, the Quintas Vale do Sabor and Vale D. Maria were acquired; and there was a new entry into the Algarve, with Villa Alvor. This, alongside an expansion of the historic brands Casal Garcia, Aveleda, and Adega Velha, resulted in a sales growth from 26 to 40 million euros in this period. It was therefore a period of challenge and growth, with high personal achievement and learning.
Throughout this journey, António also had the opportunity to participate in the management of various companies within the group: Primedrinks (the leading distributor of wines and spirits in Portugal), Queijaria da Aveleda, Quinta Vale D. Maria, Le Portugal des Saveurs (France), Aveleda Inc. (USA); as well as in some Wine Commissions (CVRVV and IVDP).
António is the father of 4 children, 3 girls and one boy. In addition to his strong passion for family, António is a lover of nature, enjoying all contact with it; as well as participating in a group linked to Fátima. And being a wine enthusiast by training and heart, he never misses a good wine with his meal.
