The Comenda Grande was established by Maria José de Almeida Margiochi, granddaughter of José Maria Eugénio de Almeida and daughter of Gertrudes de Almeida Margiochi and de Francisco Simões Margiochi (a). This latter is one of the most renowned figures in 19th century Portuguese agriculture, winning many prizes (b), both national and international, related to the farming world.
  
 a) Trained as an agronomist in 1870, at the Instituto Agrícola de Lisboa. He was chairman of the Commission for phylloxera services for the South. He planted the 1st vineyard in 1877.
 b) Among the many prizes won in Portugal were those awarded at the Lisbon agricultural show in 1884 and 1888. Internationally, wines won prizes in 1876, in Philadelphia, in 1888, in Barcelona and Berlin, and in 1889, in Paris.