We have a treat for you this week! Our dear friends Ben Carson-Brown and Rui Abecassis of Olé & Obrigado are in the state for a series of trade seminars, and we’ve convinced them to host one in our cellar for you as well, dear wine lovers!
Be a part of our exploration into the unsung history of Portuguese viticulture, from the Douro and Dão in the north, to Alentejo down south - the marriage of new and old has never been more thrilling!
Olé & Obrigado is a US-based importer specializing in artisanal wines and spirits sourced from Spain and Portugal. This venture is a collaborative effort led by native Spanish and Portuguese entrepreneurs Patrick Mata, Alberto Orte, and Rui Abecassis. Olé & Obrigado has been dedicated to bringing an authentic representation of the rich cultures, culinary traditions, and geographical beauty of Spain and Portugal directly to the United States, and have been doing so for more than two decades! Never a group to shy away from innovation, Olé & Obrigado focus on the consumer first - bringing accessibility and education to the forefront in original, and most importantly - FUN styles.
On to our hosts for the evening!
Rui Abecassis
Rui co-founded New York based import company Obrigado Vinhos way back in 2010, focusing on showcasing all that Portugal has to offer: the places, families, winemakers and unique grapes of this majestic land. With deep family roots in Portugal and many years spent abroad spreading the gospel of the vine, Rui finally returned to Lisbon to work more closely with their producers, and to share the region with visitors from the world over.
Ben Carson-Brown
What can I say about this fella? As the COO of Olé & Obrigado, Ben is also a busy guy; keeping the day to day operations of such a multi faceted company is no small task. Stateside, you’ll find Ben just about everywhere, hosting dinners, preaching from the good book of Olé & Obrigado.
Now for me…Ben gave me my second job in the world of wine distribution, when I was still bright and green. At that particular time, and that particular place…I’m not sure that most would have given me the opportunity. That was a game changer for my personal path, one that set the eventual inspiration to open Digress. I wouldn’t be writing this were it not for Ben giving a kid a chance, so I am especially thrilled to be hosting this event!