VV Winery 2: Soalheiro
Our second stop of day 2 was Soalheiro. This is yet another family run winery, however this one is located in the subregion of Melgaço - that’s one of the most northern points in Portugal - in fact, you can see Spain from the Soalheiro property!
The houses in the background are in Spain!
Celebrating 40 years of winemaking this year (2022), this winery specializes in the Alvarinho varietal. They mainly operate as a B2B company which means that you’re more likely to see Soalheiro on the wine list at your favorite restaurant over on the shelves at the wine store.
Fun fact: The name Soalheiro came about because of the amount of sunlight that the region receives.
Soalheiro definitely has innovation in their veins - they’ve been experimenting and trying new things for years now and keeping what sticks, while moving on from what doesn’t. Some of their more notable innovations include:
Releasing the first-ever sparkling wine made with Alvarinho
In 2006 they had their vines certified as organic/biological agriculture - if you know anything about the region of Vinho Verde, you’ll know that this isn’t an easy feat with the amount of rainfall they receive annually
Experimentation with Alvarinho through different aging mechanisms (stainless steel, oak, etc.) as well as blending Alvarinho with other grapes
Planting of the highest altitude Alvarinho vineyards in Portugal
Installing a green roof on the winery
Introducing a customized bottle with an eco-efficient design (less glass = less weight = more wine bottles per shipment = less of a carbon footprint)
I’m sure from reading through all these innovations, you’ve probably guessed that this winery looks pretty modern - and well, you’d be correct. It’s stunning and the surrounding property adds beautiful character to the modern facilities.
We enjoyed a lovely locally sourced lunch in a glass walled tasting room overlooking the surrounding hills and of course, complimented with delicious Soalheiro wines. What’s not to love?
And we all left the property with a box of Herbal Tea from the Soalheiro Vineyards - I chose Lemon-Thyme and I’ve already enjoyed a cup (or 2) since returning home and can confirm that it does transport me back to that sunny afternoon in the vineyards.
