In the glass
Aroma: lime, white peach, orange blossom, wet granite
Palate: citrus, stone fruit, saline minerality, lees-derived weight
The Soalheiro flagship and reference Melgaço Alvarinho since 1982: lime and white peach over a wet-granite mineral spine, lees weight giving texture without softening the acidity.
What it pairs with
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Polvo a lagareiro
Find polvo a lagareiro on TableJourney →
The wine's saline citrus drive and granite minerality lift the olive-oil-roasted octopus without flattening the smoked-pimenton crust. -
Bacalhau a Gomes de Sa
Find bacalhau a gomes de sa on TableJourney →
Alvarinho's stone-fruit roundness and racy acidity cut the salt-cod oil emulsion and refresh the egg-and-potato gratin. -
Sardinhas grelhadas
Atlantic sardines need a coastal white with high acidity and salinity to balance the oily char; Soalheiro is the textbook match. -
Arroz de marisco
Lees-derived weight stands up to the tomato-rich shellfish broth while citrus drive keeps the dish bright.
History
Soalheiro was founded in 1982 by Joao Antonio Cerdeira at Alvaredo in Melgaço, producing the first single-variety Alvarinho ever bottled in the Monção e Melgaço sub-region. The estate is now run by siblings Maria Joao and Luis Cerdeira and remains a reference point for Alvarinho from the Minho valley.
- 1982 — First single-variety Alvarinho bottled at Melgaço under the Soalheiro label
- 2007 — Organic certification across the Alvaredo home vineyards
Facts
- Producer
- Soalheiro
- Grapes
- Alvarinho (100%)
- Classification
- DOC Vinho Verde - Monção e Melgaço
- Oak
- Stainless steel; six months on fine lees before bottling
- ABV
- 12.5%
- Price
- EUR 16 to 22 at retail
- Drinking window
- 1-8 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1982
- Organic
- ORGANIC CERTIFIED
- Vegan
- Yes (no animal-derived fining)
Frequently asked about Soalheiro Alvarinho
What does Soalheiro Alvarinho taste like?
Lime, white peach, orange blossom and wet granite on the nose; citrus, stone fruit, saline minerality and lees weight on the palate. Medium-bodied with high acidity and a long mineral finish.
When should I drink Soalheiro Alvarinho?
Drink within 1 to 8 years from vintage. Released at one year of age, it rewards three to five years in bottle as the stone-fruit register deepens into honeyed citrus.
Is Soalheiro Alvarinho organic?
Yes. The Alvaredo home vineyards have been certified organic since 2007 and Soalheiro is one of the pioneers of organic viticulture in Melgaço.
What food pairs with Soalheiro Alvarinho?
Polvo a lagareiro and bacalhau a Gomes de Sa are textbook Porto-Minho matches. Grilled sardines and seafood rice also work because the wine's salinity and acidity track Atlantic fish oils.