Portugal Vineyards: A New Era of Wine Retail Space

Ricardo Porto Ferreira's Innovative Approach to Wine Retailing

The inspiration behind Portugal Vineyards came from the need to break away from the traditional dark cellars and wood materials often associated with wine retail spaces. Ferreira envisioned a bright, open-plan space that would allow the Portuguese wine to shine. The result is a blindingly white, minimalistic space with circular circulation, where the shelves are carved out of the walls in reference to the wine terraces.

What sets this design apart is its unique approach to customer interaction. The absence of a counter means that the staff are on the client's side, suggesting, promoting, and serving. This innovative design allows for a more personal and engaging retail experience. The curving walls, made of gypsum board supported by a metal frame, and the engineered wood shelves, supported in the same structure, add to the uniqueness of the design.

The design also incorporates elements of the wine tasting process. The color RAL 9003, recommended for use as a background when observing aging wine, is used throughout the space. This decision not only brightens the space but also enhances the wine exhibition process, a crucial aspect of retail.

Portugal Vineyards was a project that spanned from April to September 2019. The design challenges faced during this period were creatively overcome through the use of geometry. The displays, carved out of the walls in reference to the vineyard terraces, fill the customer's field of view with indirect lighting and the sharp contrast between the product and the space.

The Portugal Vineyards concept store is the first physical store for the online wine specialist company. Located adjacent to the company’s headquarters, the store occupies 90m2 and consists of an open-plan devoid of partitions. This innovative design has earned the Golden A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2020, a testament to its outstanding and trendsetting creation.