Quinta do Soalheiro

In the 1970s, in 1974, the passion for winemaking led Joao Antonio Cerdeira, with the support of his father Antonio Estevez Ferreira, to plant the first Alvarinho vine in the Monção and Melgaço subregions. As a result, he created the first Alvarinho brand in Melgaso in 1982, and nowadays the winery is among the top producers in the region. Located in Melgaso (the northernmost point of Portugal), the region is protected by a number of mountains that create the necessary conditions for the best ripening of Alvarinho grapes. Soalheiro owns 6 hectares of vineyards, the largest of which is only 1 hectare. In addition, they have agreements with small producers - which adds another 6 hectares of vineyards. Today, the winery is run by Luis Cerdeira, the founder's son, who works with his brother Joao to run the estate, assisted by his sister Maria, who is a veterinarian but also involved in the family business.