Soalheiro
Melgaço, Vinho Verde · the family that put Melgaço Alvarinho on the map
In 1982 the Cerdeira family were the first in Melgaço to revive the tradition of quality wine from the local Alvarinho grape. Soalheiro has since become a household name.
In Belgium, Soalheiro is available from The Portugal Collection. We import the wines directly and deliver throughout Belgium.
A sunny place, since 1974
In 1974 João António Cerdeira and his parents planted one hectare of Alvarinho. They named the vineyard Soalheiro: a sunny place.
In 1982 the family made its first wine from it. Those old vines still supply the grapes for the top cuvée Primeiras Vinhas today.
The family in 1974, the year of the first planting.
António Luís, his mother Maria Palmira and his sister Maria João Cerdeira.
Still a family estate
In the mid-2000s, son António Luís joined the family project, and from then on the estate's star rose rapidly. Today he runs Soalheiro together with his mother Maria Palmira and his sister Maria João, who led the conversion to organic farming.
Although Soalheiro is still a small family estate, producing some 200,000 bottles a year, there is no quality restaurant in Portugal that does not have it on the list. In Belgium too, many of the best chefs have already paired Soalheiro with their dishes.
Between the Minho and the mountains
Granite and a cool climate
Melgaço lies in the far north of Portugal, inland and sheltered from the Atlantic rain by the mountains. Days are warm, nights are cool. The granite soils and cool climate are the ideal habitat for making food-oriented wines from Alvarinho.
The vineyards are a patchwork of small plots. Besides its own vines, Soalheiro works with some 150 local grower families.
Winemaker António Luís Cerdeira.
From Granit to Nature
Besides the classic Alvarinho, the slightly tauter Granit cuvée is a particular favourite in Belgium. For it, Soalheiro uses grapes from higher-altitude vineyards.
With small-batch creations such as Terramatter and Nature, António Luís is pushing the boundaries towards minimal-intervention winemaking.
On the estate
Soalheiro in our range
Including: Soalheiro Alvarinho, Allo, Alma, Granit, Primeiras Vinhas, Cota 27, Terramatter, Nature, Mineral Rosé, Espumante Bruto and Rosé.
View them in the webshop · More about the region: Vinho Verde.
Delivery and collection
We deliver throughout Belgium. Shipping costs €15.73 (incl. VAT) and is free from €175. Prefer to collect? You can pick up your order at our shop in Roeselare, Kaaistraat 62A. More about delivery