THE WINE
With its delicate red hue and refined tannins could this be the Portugese answer to Nebbiolo?  Andre prefers to call this attempt to encapsulate Beira in a glass.  Predominantly Rufete sourced from the Corricao plain, destemmed, fermented in steel and aged in a mix of chestnut and Portugese oak barrels. 
 
THE PEOPLE
André had been working in conventional wineries for 15 years when the Covid lockdown allowed him the time to reassess and create a winery based on the principles of the wines his grandfather used to make.   As he puts it he is "in search of the true “essence” of the grape without any kind of masks".  The project has 2 main goals:
1) Have sustainable vineyards, with organic and biodynamic principals, with minimal intervention and treatments in the cellar
2) Researching and preserving old grape varieties – to not pursue  quantity but typicity and uniqueness. 
 
Starting off in a friend's cellar, his first vintages were released from the 2020 harvest.  The grapes were sourced from organic and biodynamic vineyards in the region (though uncertified) as Beira has the highest concentration of organic vineyards in Portugal - it is pretty well embedded as the norm in agriculture here!
 
Now renting 2.5hA of vineyards full of local heritage varietals: Fonte Cal and Uva Formosa, Bastardo Espanhol, Carrega Burros, Bastardinho, Rufete, Marufo, Moscatel Tinto and Jaen.  He also continues to buy in grapes from other local growers he trust: Siria, Arinto,  Rufete, Mourisco, Bastardo, Bastado Espanhol, Castelão and Trincadeira.
 
THE PLACE
Set inland up against the mountains that divide Spain and Portugal, Beira is a traditional heartland of Portugese wine production.  Deeply linked to small scale peasant agriculture it has become an exciting region for natural winemakers to explore, with old vines and vineyards left unsprayed for years, almost wild and full of traditional heritage varieties.