Association of Grape Growers and Winemakers
It brings together more than 200 families of winegrowers from Monção and Melgaço.
Wine Producers Club of Monovarietal Vinho Verde (VVCPM)
The Viticulturists Club is part of and originated the Vinho Verde Monovarietal Producers Club (VVCPM) , founded in 2018 by the managing partners of Quinta de Soalheiro.
Today, this community brings together more than 200 families of winegrowers from Monção and Melgaço, integrated into a broader structure that includes producers from the Vinho Verde region dedicated to the production of single-varietal wines, focusing on quality, wine tourism, innovation, and the enhancement of the local area.
VVCPM represents producers of:
- Alvarinho grapes (DOC or IG), including the Monção and Melgaço sub-region.
- Loureiro grapes (DOC Vinho Verde or IG Minho)
- Other white and red grape varieties from the region include Avesso, Azal, Arinto, Trajadura, Vinhão, Espadeiro, and Alvarelhão.
- Producers of grapes, must or wine eligible for DOC/IG designation in the Vinho Verde region.
- Tour operators engaged in tourism activities.
Soalheiro's vision of the territory
The unique character of Monção and Melgaço stems from a valley protected by mountains and an agricultural structure of smallholdings where each plot is human-sized.
The first vineyard at Soalheiro was planted in 1974. The subsequent growth was gradual, bringing together families and small plots of land. This gave rise to a network that today constitutes the Winegrowers' Club.
Each family dedicates themselves to the vineyard, often outside of working hours. At the end of the day or on weekends, they repeat gestures passed down through generations. The vineyard is a supplementary income, but it is also a form of identity.
Viewed from above, these small plots paint a uniquely shaped landscape. They resemble a patchwork quilt. Each one bears the face of its caretaker.
Patchwork | Faces of Alvarinho Wine
Throughout a complete cycle of the vineyard, João Bernardino and Kitato accompanied the Soalheiro Viticulturists Club. They photographed the people, the land, and what unites them.
This trip resulted in the book Patchwork | Faces of Alvarinho Wine .
A photographic portrait of the Monção and Melgaço region and the unique, family-oriented culture of Alvarinho wine.
The book includes testimonies from the protagonists and features prefaces by Álvaro Domingues and Gonçalo Maia Marques .
Learn more about the book: https://enotour.pt/manta-de-retalhos/
From books to exhibitions
The book was presented to winegrowers at the end of the 2023 harvest, at the Casa da Cultura de Melgaço , on September 24, 2023.
The exhibition then opened at the Fernando Santos Gallery on November 29, 2023, before traveling to Lisbon. After that presentation, the exhibition will be permanently installed at Soalheiro.
Appreciation, Research and Protection
As an association, the Vinho Verde Monovarietal Producers Club (VVCPM) is structured around three fundamental pillars:
Appreciation
Promotion of single-varietal grape varieties, strengthening of regional identity, and institutional representation in the sector.
Research and Development
Knowledge sharing, continuous improvement of viticultural and oenological practices, connection with institutions and partners in the vine and wine sector.
Protection
Defending the authenticity of designations of origin, safeguarding viticultural heritage, and preserving the smallholding model that characterizes Monção and Melgaço.
The book is the portrait. The Club is the structure. The families are the heart. And the patchwork continues to grow, piece by piece.
Lugar da Charneca, 4960-010 Alvaredo, Portugal
Phone: +351 251 416 769 (call to the national landline network)
Email: contact@soalheiro.com
Recruitment: rh@soalheiro.com
