At the beginning of the 19th century, in 1809, during the second French invasion of Portugal, fear spread among the people of what is now the municipality of Boticas. Fearing that the troops would loot their possessions, the population hid everything they could. Wine, the pride and livelihood of many, had an unusual fate: it was buried in the cellars, far from the eyes and looting of the invaders.
A TESTIMONY TO THE INGENUITY AND RESILIENCE OF THE PEOPLE OF BOTICAS THAT HAS SURVIVED TO THE PRESENT DAY.
Months later, with the threat gone, the locals dug up the precious nectar. Everyone was surprised: it had a lower alcohol content and was slightly fizzy, the result of a natural fermentation process caused by the time spent underground.
The peculiarity of its flavour and the unique way in which it was preserved earned it a name that survives to this day — Vinho dos Mortos (Wine of the Dead). Far from being condemned to be forgotten, this tradition took root in the local culture and is still preserved and celebrated by Casa Sousa, as a testament to the ingenuity, resilience and identity of a region.
Tiago Rodrigues
Born in Lisbon, he left the capital for a village in Barroso, where he has developed projects with various local institutions. He is a graphic designer and art editor at UMinho Editora. In 2017, he founded Terra Callaeci, a project dedicated to the promotion of the cultural landscape of Trás-os-Montes, as a construction of the people who inhabited (and inhabit) it.