Founded in 1974 in the Minho region between the Douro and the border with Galician Spain, this innovative firm was the first to create a single continuous, self-contained estate comprising 100% Alvarinho vines in the esteemed Monçäo and Melgaço DOCs, for the tradition here is one of a multitude of privately-owned garden and high-trained field-edge vineyards selling their fruit to merchants and bottlers. Now run by the second viniculturalist generation of the Cerdeira family, the estate comprises an autonomous 12 hectare terraced plot, with grapes brought in from a further 92 hectares of vineyard at various altitudes and microclimates. The undercroft in this mountainous region is granite, which is always associated with freshness and acidity, and whilst the climate is mainly Atlantic maritime, the delineation of the mountains give these two northern DOCs a warmer, more continental climate. The wines thus possess more substance and complexity than the aromatic, crisp, slightly effervescent Vinho Verdes of popular appeal, and a greater ageworthiness too; they also lend themselves to ageing in oak barrels, and the ever-innovative Cerdeira family is experimenting with Qvevri and Amphora of different clays, as well as oak ageing, no-sulphur, and sparkling wines.
Our initial offer concentrates on 3 wines. 2025 ‘ALLO’ a playful nod that blends the initials of Alvarinho (30%) and Loureiro (70%) is a wine from northern Portugal where floral Loureiro from Atlantic influenced vineyards meets the structure of Alvarinho grown higher up the valley balancing a zesty, lighthearted charm with serious character. 2025 Alvarinho Clássico is the family’s first wine from 1982 and remains a benchmark single varietal with aromatic freshness showing cut grass and gooseberry pyrazene notes familiar to lovers of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, with an intense core of ripe fruit, a fascinating and complex wine suggesting interesting bottle evolution and suited to any occasion. 2025 Granit Alvarinho, From granite soils around 400 metres, true to its name, emphasizes minerality over fruit with high acidity and crisp elegance that reveal a unique mountain expression of Alvarinho, batonage on it’s fine lees making it an exceptionally gastronomic wine.
