Soalheiro Primeiras Vinhas Alvarinho 2024
Region: Vinho Verde
Producer: Soalheiro
The microclimate that influences the production of Alvarinho grapes is very particular, the region of Melgaço, at the northern tip of Portugal, is protected by a mountain range that creates the perfect conditions of rainfall, temperature and number of hours of sunshine necessary for the best ripening of the Alvarinho grapes.
The name Soalheiro comes from the excellent sun exposure of the vineyards bearing the same name - a sunny place.
The nose develops elegant and full citrus fruit aromas, and the palate is full, fresh and complex with a great final complexity.Ideal as an aperitif or to accompany seafood, fish or poultry dishes.
| Volume | 75.0 cl. |
| Grape Variety | Alvarinho |
| Drinking window | 2025-2032 |
| Alc. | 13.0% |
| Vinification | After pressing and before fermentation at controlled temperature, the must is decanted for 48 hours. Fermentation takes place mainly in stainless steel vats at very low temperatures (only 15% of the total volume ferments in used oak barrels), and the fine lees are kept until the beginning of May. |
| Ripening | Part of the wine is aged in large oak barrels. |
Waar serveer je ’m bij?
Primeiras Vinhas are the first vineyards of the estate, the oldest vines, and you notice it in the wine: the cool north gives the freshness, the old vines give the depth. The greater part ferments in steel, around fifteen per cent in wooden barrels and foudres, with the lees kept. That small oak share and that lees ageing give volume without an oaky flavour. Weight ten against complexity seven: this is the broadest and most mouth-filling of the Soalheiros, a wine that can handle a main course.
Roast guinea fowl breast with dried apricot
Risotto with smoked salmon and lemon
Serveren op 10–12 °C
Drink: 2026–2030
Drink: 2027–2036
“The 2024 Primeiras Vinhas was produced with Alvarinho from the first family vineyard they planted in 1974. The whole clusters were pressed softly, and the juice fermented with indigenous yeasts mostly (85%) in stainless steel, used barriques and a 5,000-liter oak vat and 2,000-liter oak foudres, without malolactic and with extended contact with the fine lees. I love the purity and crystalline character of this cuvée. It's still young and undeveloped, with the baby fat that needs to be rendered out by some time in bottle. But it shows incipient complexity, slowly unfurling layers of aromas and a serious, dry and chalky palate. It has 13% alcohol, a pH of 3.17 and 6.9 grams of acidity. It should develop nicely in bottle. 33,461 bottles, 300 magnums and 100 double magnums produced. It was bottled in July 2025.”
In 1982, the Cerdeira family was the first to rejoin the tradition of quality wines based on the local Alvarinho grape. João Antonio Cerdeira planted the first vines to that end in 1974, and it is those old vines that still provide the grapes for the top cuvée 'Primeiras Vinhas' today.
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