Vinho Chinado
– Alcobaça, Portugal
Located just an hour north of Lisbon, Chinado Wines is the creation of João Tereso, a sound engineer turned winemaker, who set out to save his grandfather’s old vineyards in Alcobaça.
With the guidance of local agronomist and winemaker Rodrigo Martins, João learned the basics of viticulture. By 2018, he had expanded his efforts to include two more vineyards in the nearby Tojais Valley. These vines, aged between 40 to 80 years, are situated on hillsides at around 150 meters elevation, benefiting from the cool Atlantic air.
Since 2021, all vineyards have been farmed organically with a focus on minimal intervention. João prides himself on crafting wines with “low doses of sulfur and high doses of care and attention.”
Among his creations, Chinado Palheto 2023 is a blend of mostly white grapes (Fernão Pires and Malvasia-Rei) with a touch of red varieties (Castelão and Touriga Nacional), resulting in a fruit-driven, fresh, and light red. Meanwhile, Chinado Rosé Pet Nat 2023, made entirely from Touriga Nacional, is a whole-bunch rosé that’s pressed and tank-fermented without temperature control, achieving a perfect balance of bubbles and a creamy texture.
Cultivation: 15 hectares
Production: 6500 bottles
Varieties: Pignoletto, Alionza, Albana, Malvasia, Negretto, Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon
Approach: Biodynamic, no filtration, spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts
Certifications: Biodynamic