Anselmo Mendes
The winemaker known as 'the father of Alvarinho,' making handcrafted Vinho Verde from his cellar in Monção — including the Contacto and Expressões cuvées that redefined what the region could do.
Alvarinho from the winemaker who championed the grape, in the high Minho town of Monção.
For Alvarinho from the winemaker who championed the grape, in the high Minho town of Monção.
What's in the glass
Anselmo Mendes crafts wines defined by immense structural precision and deep mineral character. The whites often undergo skin contact and barrel fermentation, resulting in a saline, textured profile that challenges the traditional perception of Vinho Verde.
How it came to be
Anselmo Mendes transitioned from a consultant into one of Portugal's most influential winemakers by championing the Alvarinho grape. Establishing his own cellar in the far north, he pioneered the use of skin maceration and modern aging techniques. His work is widely credited with elevating the status of the Minho region from simple table wine to serious viticulture.
Best for, and who should skip
Serious oenophiles dedicated to understanding the nuances of the Alvarinho grape and its potential for long-term aging.
Less ideal for: Travelers seeking a high-energy, tourist-heavy environment with traditional vineyard views, or visitors primarily interested in diverse local food pairings rather than a technical, deep dive into Alvarinho viticulture.
Skip if: Travelers seeking expansive gardens or historical palatial architecture may find the functional, industrial-chic winery less visually arresting.
Tours, tastings & getting there
The winery in Monção welcomes visitors by appointment for intimate guided tastings of their portfolio. Tours explore the gravity-flow cellar and the specific philosophy behind their dry, ageworthy Alvarinho.
Getting there: 1.5 hr from Porto; near Monção.
Getting around: The estate is best accessed by private car, as public transit in this corner of the Minho is infrequent.
Booking well in advance is essential as the facility is a working boutique winery rather than a large visitor center.
When to go
May–September.
Year-round.
Allow: Half a day
Beyond the tasting room
Book a cellar tasting in Monção; combine with Soalheiro for a Minho Alvarinho day.
Pair with
Arroz de Lampreia
A rice stew of lamprey cooked in its own blood — the Minho's most distinctive river dish, in season only.
Bacalhau à Lagareiro
Salt cod roasted with olive oil and potatoes — one of the country's most beloved bacalhau preparations, born in the wine country.
Caldo Verde
The Minho's signature kale-and-potato soup — light, green, and the country's comfort in a bowl.
Other wines to explore
Aveleda
The largest Vinho Verde producer and one of the most historic — a family estate since 1870, with beautiful gardens (designed by a Swiss landscape architect) and a tasting room an hour from Porto. Casal Garcia, the world's best-selling Vinho Verde, is made here.
Casa de Mateus
The baroque palace on the label of Mateus Rosé — a real 18th-century estate outside Vila Real with manicured gardens, a historic winery and the Trás-os-Montes wine connection. The palace is the draw; the rosé's actual production is long licensed out.
Niepoort
A maverick house (founded 1842 as a port lodge, now run by Dirk Niepoort) that makes some of Portugal's most admired 'new-wave' Douro wines — Redoma, Batuta, Charme — alongside port and a Vinho Verde project. The Gaia lodge is the tasting base.
Nearby
Douro Valley
The world's oldest demarcated wine region — terraced vineyards climbing the banks of the Douro, port's birthplace, and one of the most beautiful river valleys in Europe.
Porto
Portugal's second city — granite, port wine, the Douro waterfront and a working, lived-in heart that Lisbon has partly lost to tourism.
Where it sits
