António Esteves Ferreira - Quinta do Soalheiro

The "António Esteves Ferreira - Quinta do Soalheiro" winery is located in the municipality of Charneca (Melgaço district) in the Vinho Verde area of Portugal. It was founded in 1974 by João Antonio Cerdeira. After studying oenology at the Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro and practice in Burgundy, today António Luís Cerdeira is the farm manager, responsible for the vineyards Maria João Cerdeira.

The vineyards comprise 10 hectares of self-owned vineyards. Grapes are purchased from another 60 hectares. They are located at an altitude of 100 to 200 meters above sea level on granitic soils. The Soalheiro parcel (sunny place) also gave the winery its name. The white wine varieties Alvarinho and Loureiro are cultivated, as well as the red wine variety Vinhão, which are partly ungrafted are cultivated. The cultivation is carried out according to the rules of organic viticulture with protection of biodiversity and promotion of sustainability.

The product range includes various white wines, which are mostly pressed purely from Alvarinho, as well as a red wine cuvée from Vinhão (red) and Alvarinho (white). The fermentation of the wines is mostly done in steel tanks and partly in wooden barrels. The white wines are aged on the fine lees. The red wine is aged in French barrique. The premium wines include the white wines "Alvarinho Soalheiro Reserva" (aged in barrique) and "Alvarinho Soalheiro Primeiras Vinhas" (the first vines planted in 1974). Bottle-fermented sparkling wines and a bagaceira made from Alvarhino marc are also produced.