Soalheiro Launches “Manta de Retalhos” Harvest Programme
11/08/2025Monção and Melgaço are hosting a unique experience between 1 and 15 September for those who want to get to know the Alvarinho harvest tradition up close, with the “Manta de Retalhos” initiative promoted by Soalheiro.The programme invites families and friends to take part in the harvest in the vineyards of small producers, members of the Clube de Viticultores, and discover the secrets behind the diversity of the wines that are born in this region.
This initiative reveals the community and family nature of the grape harvest, where more than 200 families dedicate their evenings and weekends to growing Alvarinho in small plots treated like veritable gardens, forming a mosaic that inspires the programme’s name. Participants are welcomed at Soalheiro, where they have the opportunity to get to know the vineyards and the stories of those who look after them, taking an active part in the harvest alongside a family from the club.
The experience includes a snack in the vineyard with a glass of Alvarinho, followed by a visit to the winery and the Innovation Cellar, where the start of the winemaking process is explained. As well as tasting various musts – the basis for different styles of Alvarinho, such as Vale, Altitude and Vinhas Velhas – participants sample the house’s emblematic wines, such as Soalheiro Espumante Bruto Alvarinho, Soalheiro Clássico, Granit and Primeiras Vinhas.
The programme ends with a typical harvest lunch, accompanied by Soalheiro wines and The Pur Terroir infusions, in a celebration that unites tradition, family and gastronomy. Registration is compulsory and is for groups of at least two people, with dates subject to natural conditions.