soalheiro

Mo-Su 10:00-17:00

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Winery Overview

As far as our memory goes, Alvarinho was always present in our Territory. In our region, grapevines were traditionally planted around the outskirts of a parcel, with grains cultivated in the centre. In 1974, João António Cerdeira and his parents, António Esteves Ferreira and Maria Cerdeira, decided to break from tradition and plant a full parcel as a continuous vineyard of Alvarinho. Since this first innovation of João António, our family has been linked to the development of Alvarinho cultivation in Melgaço.

Today, third-generation family members, siblings Maria João and António Luís, along with their mother Maria Palmira Cerdeira, have embraced this spirit of innovation. António Luís, with a graduate degree in oenology, has built a profound knowledge of the Alvarinho grape variety throughout his life. Maria João, a veterinarian by profession, assumed the responsibility for viticulture and successfully introduced organic farming into our vineyards.

Our innovative vision extends to the Territory and includes the sustainable revitalisation of the surrounding rural area. This has led us to invest in wine tourism and, most recently, in herbal tea production.

Book your winery experience

A photo of CLÁSSICO WINE TASTING EXPERIENCE

We invite you to come and fall in love with Alvarinho in the place that started it all. Enjoy a ‘classic’ expression of the varietal with a tasting of Soalheiro Alvarinho (Clássico), our most recognized wine.

In each bottle of wine is a story, telling the tale of the people who made it and the place where it comes from. With the Origins Experience we invite you to come and enjoy four wines that truly express our foundations.

Our commitment to the environment has led to many important initiatives here at Soalheiro. From our energy efficient winery, to organic certified vineyards, to more ecofriendly bottles, we assume a continuous responsibility for our Territory. We invite you to come and appreciate our unique terroir alongside our line of natural wines.

Our starting point is always the same: Monção and Melgaço, the origin of Alvarinho. Over the years, starting from here and from Alvarinho’s elasticity, we have been creating wines with influences from territories that explore other varieties. In this tasting we will travel several territories without getting away from here.

Soalheiro was born because there was a willingness to take risks. It was already the name of an agricultural parcel, due to the generous sun exposure, where, in 1974, the first continuous vineyard of Alvarinho was planted, in Melgaço. In 1982, the first brand of Alvarinho from Melgaço, Soalheiro, was born. ‘Clássico’ was just the beginning and, over the years, new wines were born. We were the first winery in Portugal with certification in Investigation, Development, and Innovation and, currently, at the Innovation Cellar, we continue to explore the versatility and limits of Alvarinho in our territory.

Alvarinho is a versatile varietal that stands well on its own but is also a perfect complement to food. We invite you to explore our Territory through this dynamic tasting experience. Here we pair our wide range of Alvarinho with regional specialties, a rich harmony revealing our delicious local flavours.