Muxagat Vinhos
“Wine always has been a passion and a source of pleasure in my life“
Muxagat Vinhos is a young vineyard in Douro (Portugal), which was created in 2003 by Mateus Nicolau de Almeida. Among the young, exciting and dynamic viticulture in the region, this is one of the names to remember his name because he will be certainly more famous in the coming years. Today it produces 6 different wines all produced entirely using local varieties.
Focus on Mateus Nicolau de Almeida, owner & winemaker of Muxagat Vinhos
“Basically it is a family property. I started making wine in 2003 in a garage because of my lack of money but I found a partner (Eduardo Lopes) who owned an old cellar located in Meda and we gradually buy it.
Video Fr & En
A native of the city of Porto I came to live in the Douro région there a few years. My family work in the Porto wine sector for many generations, my great-grandfather was the founder of the Ramos Pinto House of Porto.
In 1993, following this sale my father bought an another local vineyard, Quinta do Monte Xisto that was completely restructured.
The family is very involved in local viticulture, my father works for Ramos Pinto and Quinta do Monte Xisto, my brother is an oenologist and me I work at Muxagat Vinhos.
Personally I went to study oenology at the school of the Tour Blanche (Sauternes, Bordeaux) and then came back to Portugal. The wine has always had a passion and a source of pleasure in my life. I always helped the family, whether is be prior to Ramos Pinto or today in Quinta do Monte Xisto.
In 2003 I decided to take up the challenge to create my own brand of wine, make wine by myself. I wanted to make something that looks like me, I was challenged to create everything from scratch. I started with a production of about 5000 bottles a year. Today I produce 45,000 per year.
Muxagat is a vineyard that now covers 12 hectares, divided into three parcels. The winery is at 700m above sea level and the vineyards 300m which provide favorable conditions for winemaking and for the choice of varieties. The soil/terroir has shale on the lowest plots and granite, and finally the transition between the shale and granite for the highest plots. The vines on shale have roots that go down to the bedrock to feed. The vineyards on granite benefit from deeper soil.” (Mateus Nicolau de Almeida)
Where does the name Muxagat Vinhos come from?
“This is the name of a small village close to here (Douro Superior). I guess this is an old word that seems to be the coupling of the words ‘Muxu Gato’ (Owls Chat). ” (Mateus Nicolau de Almeida)
Why did you choose to produce wines in the Douro Superior?
“Douro Superior wines because my grandfather made good wines here, at Bacalenao (Barca Velha). My father also made wines here so I already had the conviction that here we can make good dry wines and not just grapes for the Porto (Port Wine). This region has very high altitude and it is hot. It allows us, with the different vineyards to make a blend between the grapes that come from the high land and which will bring the acidity, freshness and lower plots that provide more fruit, balance and complexity.
The wines of the Douro Superior region are drier than the Baixo Corgo and Cima Corgo and personally I prefer dry wines.” (Mateus Nicolau de Almeida)
“Lagare”
What are you looking annually producing Muxagat wines?
“I’m looking for simplicity and pleasant wines. Wines that are not dazzling, no absolutely outstanding, modest but with a gourmet complexity and fruity. All I’m doing in the vineyard and winery have these goals there.
I want to make pleasant wine but coming out of the types of predefined wines. I’m against standardization.” (Mateus Nicolau de Almeida)
Thanks to Mateus Nicolau de Almeida for his warm welcome.
Choukroun Chicheportiche Jonathan
MUXAGAT VINHOS LDA
Av. Gago Coutinho e Sacadura Cabral
6430-178 Meda
+351 91 93 96 244
