♦ SUSTAINABILITY ♦
QUALITY AND ENVIRONMENT
Founded in 1834, José Maria da Fonseca leads the way in the field of
table wine and Setúbal Moscatel production and sales. Its brands can be found worldwide and exports currently account for about 80% of annual sales volume.
A Key part part of the company’s strategy throughout its history has been environmental concern. This has been translated into the use of best practices in the treatment of vines and better management, preservation and conservation of natural resources. In turn, this has led to a new set of practices reflected in the community of which it is a part, thus enabling a supportive coexistence of the needs of all those involved.

♦ PHOTO GALLERY ♦
OVER THE YEARS, THE COMPANY HAS DEMONSTRATED ITS INCREASING CONCERN WITH ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, BEST PRACTICES IN VINE TREATMENT AND THE MANAGEMENT, PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES.
♦ ENVIRONMENT AND FOOD SAFETY ♦
José Maria da Fonseca has over the years demonstrated a growing concern for environmental factors. This translates into the use of best practices in the treatment of vines, better management of natural resources, their preservation and conservation.
In 1996, the company obtained Quality Certification (ISO9001), the first in its sector.
Also in the area of Food Safety, the company achieved BRC status in 2003, and in 2012 obtained the Food Safety Certification by BRCGS, issue 8, one of the most advanced international standards in the area of Food Safety, with renewal of this distinction in 2023 by BRCGS Food with maximum recognition AA. Also in early 2023, it obtained the IFS Food Safety Certification with the maximum classification of 96.4%.
Also on the environmental side, José Maria da Fonseca maintains innovative sustainable practices such as the reduction of water consumption, with annual goals and targets, including the treatment of all its wastewater, in order to ensure compliance with discharge standards and, in parallel, improve environmental quality in the facilities and their surroundings. Therefore, the company has not discharged its wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) into the water since 2007.
At the end of 2021, José Maria da Fonseca successfully concluded its certification in Sustainability according to the FAIR'N GREEN referential, being the first Portuguese wine producer to obtain this recognition after a detailed and demanding process. In January 2023, all José Maria da Fonseca wines produced after 2022 also obtained FAIR'N GREEN certification. This is a holistic sustainability distinction, which helps us to systematically improve over time.
At the end of 2021 we invested in the installation of a solar photovoltaic system for self-consumption at Quinta da Bassaqueira, in Azeitão, which allows us to save 38% energy. This system will also avoid the emission of 250 tons of CO2 per year, which is equivalent to 55 hectares of forest or the removal of 139 cars from the road per year.
♦ BALANCED, ENVIRONMENTAL AND PIONEERING VITICULTURE ♦
Viticulture constantly seeks a balance between the use of technology and concern for the environment. José Maria da Fonseca was a pioneer in drip irrigation, which it implemented in 1993 and is now standard practice in national viticulture.
Also since the 80's it started not to mobilize the soil, maintaining a vegetation cover that retains humidity, benefiting plant and animal life and biodiversity, which consequently implies a lower need for water in the vineyards.
José Maria da Fonseca has collaborated with leading national and international experts and research centers in the field of Enology and Viticulture and with many other innovations at national and international level.
♦ PRESERVATION OF RESOURCES ♦
In Casa Agrícola José de Sousa Rosado Fernandes, there is a unique wine cellar, with 114 clay amphoras, which allows the company to produce wine vinified clay pots - the Puro Talha wines - keeping alive a vinification technique, which had its origin in the Roman occupation period of the Iberian Peninsula.
The company holds one of the largest ampelographic collection in the world, which translates into the ownership and development of more than 560 different types of grape varieties, which represent a true living viticultural "museum", and which has allowed the development of unique products in the market, through the combination of all this viticultural potential.
♦ RESPONSIBLE AND MODERATE CONSUMPTION ♦
In social terms, José Maria da Fonseca has always, in line with other companies and organizations in the sector, defended the responsible consumption of alcohol.
Besides the support provided both nationally and internationally to these organizations, this orientation is also evident in the advertising of all its wines, where it always appeals to moderate and responsible consumption. Also the defence of alcohol consumption at a legal age is one of the ideas defended by the company.
This issue of responsible and moderate consumption led José Maria da Fonseca to be a pioneer in Portugal in developing and creating the first line of alcohol-free wines, currently having more than one brand in alcohol-free rosé, white and red wines, which it sells to its main markets.
♦ THE COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL SUPPORT ♦
José Maria da Fonseca has always sought an involvement with its main stakeholders, as well as an active participation in the Community in which it is inserted, either in Azeitão, or, more broadly, in the Setúbal Peninsula.
In the social field, the company is duly inserted in the local community, where it actively participates in activities of direct or indirect sponsorship of events with local organizations, in works and partnerships of a social nature.
♦ QUALITY, ENVIRONMENT AND FOOD SAFETY POLICY ♦
José Maria da Fonseca (JMF), aware of the responsibility of being the oldest producer of table wine and Setúbal Moscatel in Portugal, follows a philosophy of permanent development by investing in products of international reference, contributing to the dissemination and prestige of national wines. It combines passion for the art of wine making with a winery with the latest technology and the most advanced winemaking techniques.
JMF has been consolidating its position in the national and international markets, having as pillars of its action: Quality, Legality, Integrity and Safety of its products and, considering its concerns with environmental factors, uses the best practices in the sustainable management of the company.
JMF's Management is committed to maintaining a policy of quality, environment and food safety, appropriate to its context and strategy, whose pillars of action are
- Development of innovative products and services, focused on the market and on consumers;
- The fulfillment of the requirements stipulated by the normative references of quality, environment, and food safety and other client-specific references;
- Compliance with legal, regulatory, customer, and other interested parties' requirements and other requirements to which the company may eventually subscribe;
- The satisfaction of the interested parties (stakeholders) whether customers, shareholders, employees, suppliers or others;
- The commitment to protect the environment, prevent pollution and use resources in a sustainable way;
- The commitment to guarantee the quality, legality, integrity and food safety of the products produced;
- The promotion of continuous improvement of the implemented management systems;
- The promotion of a culture of food safety and environmental protection.
The Board of JMF is also committed to providing the means to comply with the quality, environmental and food safety policy. The Board of JMF determines that this policy is communicated internally to employees and to other stakeholders when required.
BRCGS 'GLOBAL STANDARD for FOOD SAFETY' certificate
IFS Food Safety certification
FAIR'N GREEN certification