Antonio Madeira Palhete Ainda 2021 Dão DOC

The António Madeira Ainda 2021 is a celebration of one of Portugal's oldest and most distinctive wine styles: Palhete, a traditional co-fermentation of red and white grapes. The name"Ainda", meaning "yet" or "still", reflects António Madeira's commitment to keeping this historic Portuguese tradition alive for future generations.

Produced from a remarkable field blend of 40 grape varieties, with approximately 20-25% white grapes and 75-80% red grapes, Ainda is sourced from old vineyards in the foothills of the Serra da Estrela. The inclusion of white grapes adds richness and softens tannins, making the wine enjoyable at a younger age, a key reason why Palhete was once such a popular style throughout Portugal.

The 2021 vintage was heavily influenced by significant rainfall during harvest, with more than 100mm recorded in September, resulting in wines of lower alcohol and excellent freshness.

Inspired by the methods of Henri Jayer, the wine was vinified like a red wine, with 100% destemmed fruit undergoing a cold pre-fermentation maceration at 15°C before fermenting naturally with indigenous yeasts. The wine remained on skins for 15 days before spending 8 months in stainless steel. As with all António Madeira wines, it was bottled without fining or filtration to preserve texture and character.

Tasting Notes

Bright and expressive, the 2021 displays ripe berry fruit aromas complemented by delicate floral cherry notes. The palate is pure, vivid and energetic, packed with sweet cherry and berry flavours and impressive fruit intensity. A slight natural spritz from its stainless-steel maturation adds freshness and liveliness to the wine's generous fruit profile.

Wine Details
Producer: António Madeira
Region: Dão – Serra da Estrela, Portugal
Vintage: 2021
Style: Traditional Palhete (co-fermented red and white grapes)
Grape Varieties: Field blend of 40 varieties (approximately 20% white and 80% red grapes)
Vine Age: 50-100 years
Soil: Granite
Altitude: 500 metres
Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts, open vats, 15 days skin contact
Ageing: 8 months in stainless steel
Unfined & Unfiltered
Alcohol: 12.2%
Total Acidity: 5.03 g/L
pH: 3.64
Production: 4,400 bottles
Bottled: April 2022
Food Pairing

A versatile table wine that pairs beautifully with lamb, duck, charcuterie, grilled poultry and traditional Portuguese codfish dishes.

About António Madeira

António Madeira has become one of the leading voices of the Dão, restoring historic vineyards throughout the Serra da Estrela and championing forgotten native grape varieties. His wines are defined by freshness, salinity, low-intervention winemaking and a profound connection to place.

A vibrant, traditional Portuguese Palhete that combines history, freshness and drinkability, offering a unique expression of the Serra da Estrela's old-vine heritage.