The Medeiros Estate
A Historic Terroir in Alentejo
Located in the prestigious wine region of Moura in Portugal's Alentejo, the Medeiros Estate embodies a perfect harmony between winemaking tradition and natural beauty. Our 39-hectare vineyard sits on hallowed ground where wine production was first recorded over 400 years ago, creating a direct link to Portugal's rich viticultural history. The estate's privileged terroir and ideal climate provide the perfect conditions for growing exceptional grapes. The sun-drenched days and cool nights of Alentejo create the ideal balance for slow, even ripening, developing grapes with intense flavors and perfect acidity.
Biodiversity and Sustainable Practices
Medeiros Estate shares its lands with a thriving ecosystem of local wildlife. Our two large lakes are home to fish, turtles, and crayfish, while the surrounding landscape welcomes wild boars, otters, and a diverse bird population including owls, partridges, storks, ducks, and quails. This rich biodiversity is no accident. The Figueira de Chaves family is committed to sustainable vineyard management, following traditional and natural methods free from pesticides and herbicides. This approach preserves the natural character of Medeiros, ensuring that the wildlife community can flourish alongside our vineyards.
The Figueira de Chaves Family
For generations, the Figueira de Chaves family has maintained a profound connection to the countryside, with deep roots in agriculture, winemaking, and rural traditions. Today, two generations work side-by-side at Medeiros, combining wisdom and innovation to create exceptional wines while nurturing the land for future generations. This family commitment ensures continuity in our winemaking philosophy and a consistent approach to quality that has defined Medeiros wines for decades. Each bottle reflects not just the terroir of Alentejo, but the passion and dedication of a family devoted to their craft.
Our Vineyard and Varieties
Our 39-hectare vineyard is planted with a thoughtful selection of both traditional Portuguese and international grape varieties, allowing us to create wines with distinctive character and complexity.
Red Varieties
- Aragonez (Tempranillo) - Brings structure and red fruit notes
- Touriga Nacional - Portugal's noble grape, offering floral complexity
- Cabernet Sauvignon - Provides backbone and aging potential
- Petit Verdot - Adds color, tannin, and spice notes
- Syrah - Contributes dark fruit and pepper characteristics
- Alicante Bouschet - Offers intense color and robust flavor
White Varieties
- Arinto - Provides excellent acidity and citrus notes
- Verdelho de Açores - Brings tropical fruit character
- Viosinho - Offers floral aromatics and structure
- Viognier - Contributes richness and stone fruit notes
All vines are trained using the espalier system to achieve optimal sun exposure and ventilation, essential for grape quality and disease prevention in our sustainable approach.
Our Historic Winery
In the heart of our estate stands our winery, thoughtfully restored from ruins over 200 years old. This strategic location within the vineyard allows for minimal transportation time from vine to press, preserving the freshness and quality of our grapes. The winery combines traditional architectural elements with modern winemaking technology, creating a space where heritage and innovation coexist. Temperature-controlled fermentation tanks, a low-capacity pneumatic press, and French oak barrels for aging provide our winemaking team with the tools needed to express the full potential of our exceptional grapes.
Our Winemaking Philosophy
At Medeiros, we believe that exceptional wine begins in the vineyard. Our grapes are hand-harvested into small boxes to prevent crushing and premature oxidation, then quickly transported to our cellar where temperatures are carefully controlled throughout fermentation. To preserve the full flavor and aroma potential of our grapes, we employ slow maceration techniques and gentle pressing. Each wine is given time to develop its natural personality before aging in French oak barrels, with the process taking anywhere from 18 months to 10-15 years depending on the wine's character and intended expression. This patient approach to winemaking allows us to create wines that truly reflect the unique terroir of Medeiros and the passionate craftsmanship of the Figueira de Chaves family.
Experience Medeiros Estate
We invite you to experience the beauty and tranquility of Medeiros Estate firsthand with a guided tour of our vineyard and winery. Discover the intricate processes behind our exceptional wines and enjoy tasting our current releases in their birthplace.