A contrarian,but arch collaborator; irreverent, but a lover of tradition, Dirk van der Niepoort is something of a conundrum. However, the willingness of the 40th recipient of the Decanter Hall of Fame award to flout convention and question authority or perceived wisdom is crystal clear. It has been a pebble, maybe even a boulder, in the pond of the Portuguese wine industry, making waves that have reached far and wide.
TRANSFORMATIVE FIGURE
At a time when, says fellow producer Paul Symington, ‘many thought it was mad’, Niepoort successfully diversified his family’s 19th-century Port company, entering the still wine arena and blazing a trail for Douro DOC wine. He has elevated the reputation of Portuguese wine, throwing his creativity and weight behind premium wines of quality and personality, and encouraging and helping others to do the same. Over three decades, the self-taught winemaker has influenced peers and won legions of loyal fans and official recognition. He was awarded the rank of Grau de Comendador, Ordem do Mérito Empresarial, Classe do Mérito Agrícola by the President of Portugal in 2015.
Looking over the Decanter Hall of Fame roll call (see p48), Niepoort remarks: ‘They all did something special for the wine world in a broader way, so it’s an honour to be in their midst.’
The context in which he joined the family business in 1987
