The First Brand of Alvarinho
in Melgaço

João António Cerdeira worked in the Finance Department, and Palmira Cerdeira was a primary school teacher in Melgaço. In their early years of marriage, they lived with João António’s parents, whose house, like almost all at the time, had farmland — in the region it is common for fields to have names, and this one was called Soalheiro due to its generous sun exposure. In Melgaço, vines still occupied the borders of the fields, usually mixing Alvarinho with other native varieties. Cereals grew in the center, mainly corn, used for bread and to feed animals. Families practiced subsistence farming. Only in 1974 was a plot fully dedicated to Alvarinho in the municipality: João António Cerdeira and his family planted the first continuous Alvarinho vineyard in Melgaço — Soalheiro.

Innovation that became tradition. In 1995 we created the first Alvarinho Sparkling Wine, an innovation that became a tradition in Monção and Melgaço and neighboring Galicia. Today, we have an extended family of sparkling wines, recently inaugurated the Sparkling Wine Cellar, and deepened our knowledge of Alvarinho sparkling production. This commitment to innovation and consistency continues to drive our work.

In 2006, out of a desire to preserve the environment and promote biodiversity, Soalheiro obtained organic certification for all our vineyards — another pioneering step in the region. Our viticultural practices aim to foster sustainability and biodiversity in ecosystems, in collaboration with the more than 200 families of our Viticulturits’ Club. From these organically farmed grapes, we created our BIO wine line.

The versatility of Alvarinho and the diversity of our territory inspired us to explore high-altitude vineyards. Located above 400 meters, these produce Alvarinhos with a more mineral profile. In 2015, we launched Granit, whose success encouraged us to continue experimenting at higher altitudes, leading us to plant the highest Alvarinho vineyard in Portugal, in Branda da Aveleira. With the constant threat of climate change, studying extreme conditions is essential to build knowledge and develop solutions.

Environmental sustainability has always been a concern. Since 2020, we reduced the glass used in our bottles by over 20%, and production was relocated to Portugal. Soalheiro boxes were redesigned to use 39% less cardboard per package, lowering transport emissions. The cardboard is sourced from Sustainable Forests (FSC certified). The winery was modernized with a new green roof, reducing annual energy use by 26% and blending harmoniously into the landscape. We have also installed solar panels to maximize autonomous energy production.

Fifty years later, the family’s first vineyard lies at the center of the patchwork landscape of small Alvarinho plots across the region — stories like Soalheiro’s, of people advancing with their feet firmly rooted in the land. For most growers, Alvarinho remains an evening and weekend activity — a passion and supplementary income that ensures greater economic sustainability for families. Today, Soalheiro unites more than 200 families through its team and Viticulturists’ Club, and Alvarinho is one of the most valuable grapes in Portugal. This appreciation of viticulture and wine is crucial to sustaining culture, family traditions, and unique stories, documented in Manta de Retalhos — a portrait of our Viticulturists’ Club showcased in a photo exhibition and book (www.mantaderetalhos.pt).

n 2024, Soalheiro became the first brand in the region to receive the National Sustainability Standard, the most important Portuguese certification in the wine sector. It recognizes Soalheiro’s long-standing commitment to community involvement, respect for the land, and focus on quality, consistency, and innovation. The appreciation of Alvarinho, viticulture, and the territory, together with our sustainability and innovation efforts, led to this achievement — which also encompasses projects such as Invinotex fabric, made from Alvarinho harvest residues, educational initiatives like Jogo da Uva (www.jogodauva.pt), and the Pintar a Manta project, where schoolchildren from Monção and Melgaço illustrated the diversity of local vineyards.