Traditionally, the wines of Melgaço were field blends of various native grape varieties. In 1974, João Antonio Cerdeira broke from tradition and planted the first continuous vineyard of a single variety, Alvarinho, in the territory.
In 1982, he became the first in the region to bottle them into a single varietal wine and dedicated the entire production of Soalheiro to Alvarinho.
As the name of the wine indicates, Primeiras Vinhas (‘First Vineyards’) sources its production from the old-vine fruit of that inaugural 1974 planting. This wine boasts an elegant structure and complexity not common in Monçao and Melgaço, using old vines to create a new expression of the region’s winemaking potential.
Primeiras Vinhas has a bright lemon to golden-yellow colour and a concentrated ripe fruit aroma with buttery notes and plenty of spice. It boasts an elegant, vibrant flavour that is very firm and tropical tasting in its youth and gets bigger with ageing. Its full body perfectly balances with a crisp acidity. These complexities are due to the early ripening of the Alvarinho on the suntrap, nicknamed ‘Soalheiro’, where the first vineyard is located.