Antonio Madeira Branco 2022 Dão DOC

The António Madeira Branco 2022 is the estate's signature white wine, capturing the freshness, salinity and granite-driven minerality that define the high-altitude vineyards of the Serra da Estrela. Sourced from 25-year-old plantings of Encruzado and Bical, alongside old vineyards aged between 50 and 70 years, the wine is a field blend of around 20 native Portuguese grape varieties, including several rare and forgotten cultivars.

The 2022 vintage was shaped by an exceptionally dry growing season, with virtually no rainfall, highlighting the increasing influence of climate change on the region. Despite the challenging conditions, the old vines delivered fruit of outstanding concentration while retaining the freshness for which the Dão is renowned.

Produced with a natural, minimal-intervention philosophy, the wine was fermented using indigenous yeasts without enzymes or oenological additives. Fermentation and ageing took place with 30% in seasoned oak barrels and 70% in stainless steel tanks, followed by complete malolactic fermentation and 14 months of maturation. The wine was bottled in December 2023 without fining or filtration, preserving texture and complexity.

Tasting Notes

Complex and beautifully expressive, the 2022 opens with aromas of fresh fruit, wild flowers, subtle lactic notes and granite-derived minerality. The palate is fresh, crystalline and saline, balancing elegance with impressive depth and texture. Layers of fruit and mineral character flow through to a long, intense and distinctly granite-driven finish, showcasing the purity and identity of the Serra da Estrela.

Wine Details
Producer: António Madeira
Region: Dão – Serra da Estrela, Portugal
Vintage: 2022
Grape Varieties: Field blend of approximately 20 native varieties, led by Síria, Fernão Pires, Bical, Arinto, Encruzado, Malvasia Fina and Cerceal
Vine Age: 25-70 years
Soil: Granite
Altitude: 500-600 metres
Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts; 30% in used oak barrels, 70% in stainless steel
Malolactic Fermentation: Completed
Ageing: 14 months in used barrels and stainless steel tanks
Bottling: December 2023, unfined and unfiltered
Alcohol: 12.5%
Total Acidity: 5.34 g/L
pH: 3.47
Production: 14,000 bottles
Food Pairing

Perfect with fresh seafood, grilled fish, salt cod, roast chicken, soft cheeses and grilled vegetables, where its saline texture and mineral precision can shine.

About António Madeira

French-born and of Portuguese heritage, António Madeira has become one of the leading custodians of the historic vineyards of the Serra da Estrela. Through biodynamic farming, indigenous fermentations and the preservation of forgotten native varieties, he has helped redefine the potential of the modern Dão while remaining deeply connected to its traditions.

A beautifully textured and mineral-driven Dão white, combining old-vine complexity, vibrant freshness and the distinctive saline character that defines the wines of the Serra da Estrela.