Antonio Madeira Wines

Serra D’Estrela, Dão Sub-Region, Portugal

Antonio Madeira is a Portuguese winemaker of French descent, whose roots lie in the Serra da Estrela, the highest mountain range in Portugal’s Dão region. Deeply connected to the land, Madeira believes the Dão’s mountainous terroir produces some of the region’s finest, mineral-driven wines with great aging potential—what he calls the ‘Grands Crus of the Dão Highlands.’ Passionate about organic, manual vineyard work, he focuses on enriching the soil to allow vines to grow deep, drawing out the landscape’s natural minerality and flavors.

Crafting terroir-driven wines, Madeira’s winemaking approach is minimalist and respectful of nature. He hand-harvests grapes from 30 distinct plots across 6-7 hectares, primarily located in the foothills and higher altitudes of the Serra da Estrela. His wines are co-fermented field blends using indigenous yeast and minimal sulphur. Fermentation occurs in 500L barrels with slowly toasted oak and stainless steel vats, resulting in wines with fresh acidity, a touch of salinity, and earthy qualities. Antonio Madeira has also dedicated himself to preserving the region’s historical vineyards, rescuing them from abandonment and showcasing the true potential of this often-overlooked wine-growing area.