Soalheiro

In the nineteen seventies (1974), the passion for winemaking led João António Cerdeira, with the support of his father, António Esteves Ferreira, 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 subregion of Monção and Melgaço.

Quinta de Soalheiro is a traditional, family-run winery, where the dedication to winemaking 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 winemaker.

Quinta de Soalheiro has evolved steadily and gradually. The winery, which was recently renovated, creates a space where the winemaking capability is optimized, with specific areas for fermentation and ageing, while maintaining the conditions to pamper the wines, making them unique. Small essential details are overlooked, to ensure consistency in the quality of the great wines, creating an area that functionally respects wine growing and winemaking traditions, opening the door to discovery of the different Soalheiros.

Set in a landscape at the heart of the Minho river valley, in the municipality of Melgaço, the Alvarinho vineyards are bathed in natural sunlight and surrounded by mountains on all sides, which form a unique microclimate. Walk around the organic vineyard located next to the winery, and learn about the traditional flora, ecology and harvesting. The harvesting will depend on the date of your visit. Guided tour of the different areas of the winery (sparkling wine cellar, ageing process in oak barrels, ageing of the wine brandy, fermentation, and stainless steel tank stage).