Quinta de Soalheiro, a pioneer in the creation of Alvarinho wine in Melgaço, is an international benchmark for the wines of this grape variety, blending perfectly into the distinctive Minho landscape surrounding it. Located in Melgaço (Portugal's northernmost point) it is protected by a range of mountains that create the conditions necessary for the best ripening of the Alvarinho grapes.
The top of the winery boasts a tasting room, leading to a panoramic terrace from where the view extends over the vineyards, mountains surrounding and closing the valley and neighboring Spain, and the breeze can be felt from the Minho river flowing close by - a perfect panorama of the unique terroir of this region.
TIn the 1970s (1974) his passion for winemaking led João António Cerdeira, with the support of his father, to plant the first Alvarinho vine and to create the first brand of Alvarinho in Melgaço in 1982, and the fourth Alvarinho brand in the sub-region of Monção and Melgaço. Quinta de Soalheiro has a deeply family-run nature, and
the dedication to wine is expressed in elegant, vibrant wines. The work is currently managed by Maria Palmira Cerdeira and her children, Maria João Cerdeira and António Luís Cerdeira, the Quinta’s winemaker.
Quinta de Soalheiro has evolved steadily and gradually. The winery, which was recently refurbished, creates an area where it is possible to optimise the winemaking capability with specific areas for fermentation and ageing, while maintaining the conditions to pamper the wines, making them unique. The small essential details are not overlooked to ensure consistency in the quality of the great wines, creating an area which functionally respects winegrowing and winemaking tradition, opening the doors to the
discovery of the different Soalheiros. Quinta de Soalheiro is involved in all stages of production of its wines, from the planting of the vine to the grape selection and design of the wines. The family’s commitment to the future of the Alvarinho wine can be seen in their dedication to achieve the highest standards in the production of this grape variety, its sustained investment and the
determination to preserve the unique environment of the region by promoting sustainable viticulture.
Monção and Melgaço, at the northernmost point of Portugal, is one of the 9 Vinho Verde’s sub-regions, known as the “Origin of Alvarinho”. It is protected from Atlantic influence by a range of mountains, providing optimal conditions for the growth of Alvarinho. That is, a large difference in temperature between warm days and cold nights during maturation and the perfect amount of rain and sunshine. These are important conditions necessary for the protection of varietal aromas and preserving freshness. The microclimate of Monção and Melgaço, conditioned by the mountains present in the region, is characterized as an Atlantic temperate microclimate with continental influence, featuring cold and rainy winters and hot and dry summers. The terroir of Monção and Melgaço is not defined by only climate and natural factors, it is also made up of the people who live here and work daily on our land. The human factor of our terroir, namely the grapevine growth techniques and winemaking practices, amplify the peculiarities of the region’s natural characteristics. Historically, Vinho Verde has always been densely populated because of the fertility of the land, resulting that the size of land per family would be very small. This distinctive characteristic is still true in our Territory in Monção and Melgaço, where the parcels of vineyards remain very small. These plots are therefore treated like gardens by the families that, other than grape-growing, have other professional occupations and take care of their vineyards at the end of the working day and on weekends.
SOALHEIRO TEAM… A TEAM WITH DNA
Soalheiro, with its major focus on sustainable economic and environmental growth of the territory where it is located, has invested in a dedicated team for all phases of the process
(Plantation, Production and Wine tourism). The Soalheiro Team currently has twenty members, who take it upon themselves to daily pursue the values of innovation, nonconformism, responsibility and excellence, contributing to the continuous and sound development of Soalheiro. It was a passion for vines and wines that brought them together and it is the respect for our Terroir that fulfils them. The appreciation of each member of the Soalheiro Team and the respect for their individual
strengths makes them a strong, cohesive team. A multidisciplinary, proactive and highly motivated team with whom Soalheiro treads the path towards new challenges, to attain national and international recognition. From its pioneering creation by João António Cerdeira in 1982 in Melgaço, to this day, its focus on quality has always been present, together with a determination to improve with each harvest. But Soalheiro’s commitment extends to its partners to bring prosperity to the region’s agriculture and the local economy, based on a professional organic viticulture, which
supplements family incomes.
In order to view this website, you must be at least 21 years of age.