Ameal

Lima
Vinho Verde, Portugal

Ameal is a historic estate setting the benchmark for world- class expressions of one heirloom grape: Loureiro. Ameal skillfully integrates agriculture into protected natural surroundings, and the estate itself offers a window into the traditional culture of northern Portugal.

Location & History

In northern Portugal, land is understood and described by its proximity to water. The mighty Minho River forms the border with Spain, and just south of it flows the Lima River, from which this Vinho Verde subzone is named. Ameal’s vineyards are a stone’s throw from the banks of the Lima, making the river an essential piece of the estate’s climate.

The Ameal estate has existed in harmony with its natural surroundings since the early 18th century. While this land has been regionally important for grape growing for centuries it has been singularly focused on the Loureiro grape since 1990. The Esporão Company became stewards of the estate in 2019, taking care to explore the role the river and the woods play in Ameal’s microclimate and ordered a geological survey to assess soil types within the vineyards, putting into action a vision for reaching new heights with Loureiro.

Winemaking Overview

For decades, Ameal has been applauded for its dedication to Loureiro, and the estate has been home to some of Portugal’s most impactful winemakers; they have distinguished Ameal as a completely unique site in Vinho Verde. Former owner Pedro Araujo set the visionary standard for his family estate by insisting on low yields and integrated farming to produce world class white wines. Together with winemaker Anselmo Mendes, they established a template for excellence, and this legacy was a major factor in the Esporão Company’s decision to add Ameal to the portfolio.

Today, Ameal winemaking is led by Mafalda Magalhães, a Porto native who once taught viticulture in northern Portugal but fell in love with winemaking. In addition to her intensive Loureiro pursuits, she is also responsible for the intense Douro reds at Murças. Led by Mafalda, the team has identified nearly a dozen unique heirloom clones of the grape within its 14 hectares of vineyards. In keeping with a passion for understanding the nuance and ageability of the noble variety, the winemaking team utilizes vessels like clay pots, glass demijohns, foudres, and concrete for vinification. All wines experience partial malolactic fermentation, creating midpalate weight and texture to balance out the bright, savory flavors that give Loureiro—named for the legendary laurel tree—its hallmark profile.

Agriculture & Sustainability

Ameal inhabits a maritime transition climate: just 30 kilometers inland from the Atlantic Ocean, but not as damp as a strictly coastal region. The estate covers 48 hectares total, 30 of which are heritage forests filled with hazelnut and walnut trees, pines, ferns, lichens, and wild birds. Ameal practices integrated sustainability: no herbicides ever, and strong emphasis on organic practices whenever possible in the challenging damp climate. With so few hectares under vine, the team can farm and harvest completely by hand. Key to this work is the identification and separation of parcels within vineyards by soil type and clone. Distinct soils are marked off using naturally pest-repellant hedges of beneficial herbs like oregano and anise. Although the base for all vineyard soils in Lima is deep granite, many areas within Ameal are sandier, and contain limestone and other minerals. The Solo Único (“unique soils,” in Portuguese) vineyard site hosts abundant quartz and mica.

The focus at Ameal is Loureiro. However, the diverse vineyard sites and many identified clones create mini “research stations” within the state, allowing the team to understand the influence of the Atlantic Ocean and the Lima River, along with how to mitigate the effects of climate change in a sustainable way. The Marinhas site is a test for planting in pergola, which offers increased airflow and canopy management, making it possible to farm without any herbicides or fungicides.

Wines

The wines from Ameal show off the capacity of Loureiro to dazzle, and to age. It’s rare to find an estate with such a singular focus, and Ameal has rightly been described as establishing the benchmark for the variety—past, present, and future.

Loureiro, Ameal’s flagship, is produced in stainless steel, with 7 months spent on the lees to balance its brilliant acid.

Solo Único comes from a single plot and is fermented in concrete vats and then aged in concrete egg, spending 8 months on the lees.

Reserva comes from an isolated plot known as Marinhas, which is being converted to pergola system trellising and is farmed completely organic. This wine is the only one fermented spontaneously in used oak, then aged in large foudres.

Visit

Tasting room visits and winery stays at Ameal can be booked directly at esporao.com