The origin
The name Herdade da Amada comes from the name of one of its owners, Brites Amada, daughter of Diogo Amado and wife of João Pereira de Abreu, descendant of a noble Portuguese family and one of the most illustrious in Elvas. The first historical reference to the estate dates back to 9 October 1636.
We have to go back several centuries in the history of the Herdade da Amada to get a real sense of the preciousness of our soils. From the existing historical records of the estate we can see that during the 17th century its exploitation was essentially agricultural, with a vegetable garden and watermill.
The 19th century was a precious century for the estate. At the beginning of this century, mulberry trees were planted with a view to developing silkworm breeding in Portugal.
In addition to the mulberry trees, its agricultural characteristics were maintained, with records from the time of the existence of a vast orchard and a vineyard in this terroir.
In 2018, Herdade da Amada gained a new lease of life. It was acquired by the Marvanejo Family, who invested in the estate's centuries-old traditions by planting 14 hectares of vineyards.
Herdade da Amada with 14 hectares of terroir
Located in the city of Elvas, it was acquired by the Marvanejo family in 2018, as a result of a family aspiration and dream. This place stands out for its typical Alto Alentejo landscape, where the relief features translate into a diversity of altitudes that play a fundamental role, with its highest point being 306 meters.
The vineyard, located on medium-textured clay-limestone soils and oriented from northwest to southeast, benefits from optimal conditions for its development, with the added benefit of privileged solar exposure, perfectly suited to each variety.
From the wild vine to the most genuine aroma
With a unique terroir and singular profile, the 10 varieties planted benefit from the granite soils and the typically Mediterranean climate, characterized by hot, dry summers and rainy winters.
With unique characteristics, Herdade da Amada is known for having one of the largest terroirs in the Iberian Peninsula with vineyards planted using the traditional grafting method. A unique vineyard, where each grape variety planted here was carefully selected.
56,000 units of bacelli
Planting was carried out in March 2019 with bearded vines, selected according to soil characteristics, grape varieties, method of cultivation and production objectives after careful soil preparation in terms of fertilization and correction.
The grafting techniques used were fork grafting and chip budding, during a period when the temperature was favorable, as well as the soil humidity, which allowed the active circulation of the sap and the turgidity of the tissues.
The grape varieties were defined according to the qualitative objectives we want in the wines, based on a genetic base that can express all the authenticity in terms of quality, as well as adaptability to the terroir of the region.
We use the best grafters to plant and graft our vines with 10 selected varieties.
Our varieties
Arinto
Fernao Pires
Wardrobe
Verdejo
Alicante Bouschet
Castellan
Tempranillo
Grand Noir
Syrah
Touriga Nacional
Vintage
At Herdade da Amada, the harvest is the most important moment of the year.
After rigorous control and monitoring of ripening, the best grapes are harvested manually, placed in 15 kg boxes, and refrigerated until they reach the winery.
Once in the cellar, a second manual selection is made so that only the best fruits reach the fermentation vats.
Cellar
In the Herdade da Amada project, we combine modernity and innovation with the tradition of classic and ancestral methods and materials in the production of our wines.
We use stainless steel, which is today a guarantee of food safety and quality preservation, but also has the unique and important characteristics in the evolution of wines that only wood can provide.
To complement this, we use materials such as clay and cement, which, like wood, provide us with essential micro-oxygenation to work, enhance and differentiate the unique wines we produce in our terroir.
A unique heritage
Elvas, a border town, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012, for the largest and most unique fortification and building in the world.
The municipality of Elvas is located in the demarcated wine region of Alentejo, where we can find, as in the entire region, a very present wine culture.
The wine culture of Elvas comes from ancestral traditions that date back to the time of the Roman occupation, and which in the 21st century have adapted to new technologies to produce quality wines.
