From Macao to Portugal: Wu Family’s Vineyard Dream Blossoms

What happens when a Macao-based construction expert swaps blueprints for Bordeaux blends? Meet Wu Zhiwei and Lao Chao Peng – the power couple turning Portuguese vineyards into a cross-cultural success story.

The duo stumbled upon Quinta da Marmeleira, a 500-year-old estate near Lisbon, during a 2013 trip. 'It felt like destiny,' Lao recalls, sitting among winter-dormant vines. 'President Xi had just announced the Belt and Road Initiative, and we wanted to bridge our Macao roots with new opportunities.'

Wu jokes about his unlikely career pivot: 'Ask me about reinforced concrete? Easy. Grape varietals? That’s my wife’s department!' Their venture blends Portuguese winemaking heritage with Asian business savvy – think pasteis de nata meets dim sum partnerships.

Through Macao’s historic Lusophone connections, the Wus are crafting more than wine – they’re brewing a modern tale of cultural exchange. As tourism between China and Portugal grows (+23% since 2019), their estate is becoming a hotspot for oenophiles and architecture buffs alike.

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Portuguese wine with a Cantonese accent: keeping Wu family dream alive

cgtn.com