97 points - "Our Portuguese panel has been alive to the vibe from Moncão et Melgaço in Vinho Verde for some years now (with a Best in Show in our 2021 competition), so it was gratifying to see this benchmark example cruise its way back into this year’s selection. ‘Green’ is often an insult in winemaking terms, but in Portugal’s granite-soiled Vinho Verde (‘green wine’) region, it’s a prerequisite. The joy of Alvarinho, of course, is that it adds an extra aromatic note of floral charm here (apricots are more typical in Galicia), so your journey into the wine is as much journey into flower garden as it is forest glade. The palate is impressive: there’s nothing slender or shivering about it, nor does it rely on sweet tweaks. Instead it’s svelte and textured, with density to match the wine’s natural drive and freshness. Its 12.5% is low enough to make it a white to drink, not to sip … with or without food: this wine would make both a quenching aperitif and a perfect summer-salad white." - Decanter

92 points - "A tasty, salty, citrus-driven and refreshing wine with aromas of grapefruit and lemon zest. Easygoing and refreshing, with a clean, bright finish. Light-bodied. Drink now." - Courtney Humiston (James Suckling)

91 points - "On the Spanish border in the far north of Portugal, about 80 kilometres in land – the region of Moncao e Melgaco, and it is Vinho Verde territory. A very pleasing expression here. Waxy textured, if not quite concentrated and rich, cut with glass shard acidity within. Green pear, ginger, wet fern, preserved lemon and lemongrass scents. Flavours set around that, intense and yet refreshing, long and persistent overall. Vibrancy plus." - Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)

91 points - "The extremely young classical 2024 Alvarinho felt very reductive after the very recent bottling, and it remained difficult to read even after a couple of hours in the glass. This was the first wine produced by the family back in 1982, a varietal with floral aromas and good ripeness and freshness, noted by 12.5% alcohol and a pH of 3.17 coupled with 6.4 grams of acidity. Here, they don't do skin contact or malolactic, as they're trying to keep the purity and freshness, and they ferment it with neutral yeasts and keep it unoaked with lees for at least two months. All their wines have the dry granite finish, even the entry-level ones. 385,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2025. In my experience, this wine is much better with a little time in bottle. I'd wait at least until next year to pull the cork. Luis Cerdeira has left Soalheiro to start a new project with his son, but Soalheiro remains in the hands of his sister Maria João, who produces 900,000 bottles with the help of Spanish winemaker Asunción Carballo Gómez. They have 95 hectares of vineyards ranging from 50 to five years of age, including an experimental vineyard at 1,100 meters in altitude! They also source grapes from growers, close to 80 hectares, to keep the consistency of their classical range and make experiments. They now have an Innovation Cellar, where they look for different profiles and try to take the Alvarinho grape variety to the limit. So, their range keeps growing..." - Luis Gutiérrez (The Wine Advocate)

Introduction
Soalheiro Alvarinho, our “Classic,” was the family’s first wine, created in 1982. A single varietal from Monção and Melgaço that combines aromatic precision, freshness, and a mineral, saline finish. Versatile at the table and with excellent aging potential in bottle.

Terroir
From the Monção and Melgaço valley in northern Portugal, it benefits from ideal conditions for Alvarinho: protection from Atlantic influence, cool nights and warm days that allow balanced ripening.

Vinification
Hand harvested, followed by gentle pressing. Fermentation in stainless steel at low temperature and aging on fine lees. Bottled with potential to evolve in bottle.

Ageing Potential
Excellent when young for its tension and freshness; in bottle it gains complexity while maintaining its mineral profile. Time is its ally.

Food Pairing Suggestion
Our “Classic” is ideal as an aperitif or paired with seafood, grilled fish, white meats, aged cheeses, and Asian or Mediterranean cuisine.