Aerial photograph of the First Vineyard in 1974 (Alvaredo, Melgaço)
It was in 1974 that João António Cerdeira and the family planted Soalheiro’s First Fineyard. At a time when Alvarinho was planted on the borders of the lands at this municipality, they took the risk of planting the First Continuous Alvarinho Vineyard in Melgaço.
First continuous Alvarinho vineyard in Melgaço
João António Cerdeira worked for the Finance Department and Palmira Cerdeira was a elementary school teacher in Melgaço. During the early years of their marriage, they lived in João António Cerdeira’s parents’ house, which, like most houses at the time, possessed a plot of land. Following the local custom of naming the lands, theirs was called Soalheiro – owing to its exceptional sun exposure.
In Melgaço, the vines still occupied the borders of the fields, and it was usual to mix Alvarinho with other native grape varieties. Cereals were grown in the centre of the plots, mainly corn, used for making bread and feeding the animals. Families practised subsistence agriculture.
It wasn’t until 1974 that a land lot within the municipality became entirely dedicated to Alvarinho: João António Cerdeira and the family planted the First Continuous Alvarinho Vineyard in Melgaço, Soalheiro.
“His parents had some land and he decided to plant a vineyard. It was in 1974 and it was considered madness. My father-in-law was hesitant at first but eventually gave in. You couldn’t see the vines clearly, only the poles. People said it looked like a cemetery. Three to five years later, the vineyards started to bear fruit. When others realised it could be profitable, they followed suit.”
Palmira Cerdeira remembers those times and her husband’s vision well.
Moving forward with the feet firmly planted on this land
The planting of Soalheiro in 1974 was the first step on a path that continues. In 1982, the first bottles were labelled with the name Soalheiro, inheriting the first vineyard’s name.
50 years later, there are many small Alvarinho vineyards with stories like Soalheiro’s, of people that moved forward with their feet firmly planted on this land.
We are in a smallholdings territory, and for most winegrowers Alvarinho is a part-time activity, they dedicate late afternoons and weekends to this passion that represents an additional income, guaranteeing greater economic sustainability for many families, contributing to an alternative to coastalisation and emigration, enhancing social and territorial cohesion. The Soalheiro family, between the team and the Viticulturists Club, today brings together more than 200 families.
An attitude that endures
Alvarinho from Monção and Melgaço is internationally recognised as a world-class white wine, but at Soalheiro we believe that the potential of the Alvarinho variety in this region is still far from being fully realised.
This continuous quest around Alvarinho and the territory, showing the world this greatness that is locally made, feeds a virtuous cycle of innovation and sustainability that began in 1974 in the First Vineyard – in times when the words innovation and sustainability were not yet in fashion – when was planted an attitude endures.
All stories begin in the vineyard and it was in the vineyard that Soalheiro was born. To celebrate the 50th Anniversary since the First Vineyard was planted, we’re going to continue telling this story in the first person. Stay tuned!