The Press and 20 Years of Primado - TSF
A challenge between colleagues led to the planting of a small vineyard in the Dão region. The fruits of their labour emerged many years later: Primado, a distinctive wine released only in years of exceptional quality, was born.
The challenge set by Anselmo Mendes to Manuel Pereira de Melo, then colleagues at the same company, to "do something different" in the wine world was taken seriously.
From the planting of the vineyard in 1990 to the first vintage, which had the approval of the renowned oenologist, 14 years passed. The winery, completed two years earlier in 2002, began receiving grapes from a vineyard planted in sandy-granitic soil, spanning less than two hectares, located near Santa Comba Dão, at the heart of the Dão wine region.
The first bottle of Primado was sold in 2008, after 18 years of waiting. It was a long period, yet the shortest in Primado's history, reflecting the essence of this singular project, crafted with immense care and unmistakable passion.
For Manuel Pereira de Melo, a man of determination and a protagonist of a rich and varied life story—much of it linked to the wine world and several companies in the sector—patience is the path to excellence.
This philosophy underpins the release of any Primado wine: "Wines are only released when they meet the quality standards," emphasises the producer, who has worked with oenologist Patrícia Santos since 2006.
Annual production is limited to just 8,000–10,000 bottles across a portfolio of five wines. Manuel Pereira de Melo, a Porto native with roots in Beira (Melo, Gouveia) and a passion for the Dão region, focuses his commercial efforts on restaurants and wine shops in Lisbon and Porto. His connection to the Dão is deeply personal, having had close family ties there, which led to his enduring love for the region.
Wine tourism is another facet of Pereira de Melo Wines, offering wine tastings and meals prepared with local products for groups of two to ten people.
To mark two decades since a significant year for Manuel Pereira de Melo—2004, when he became a father for the first time and debuted as a producer of high-quality wine—Primado 20 Red was launched.
This is a limited edition of only 315 bottles, all in Magnum format, of a ‘multivintage’ wine crafted from some of the finest harvests of 2015 and subsequent years.
It is a wine of great complexity, made from Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Alfrocheiro, Jaen, and Tinta Pinheira grapes, with extended barrel and bottle ageing. It is presented in a special, elegant packaging, priced at €120.
The portfolio includes Primado Branco 2021, made with Encruzado (85%) and Malvasia Fina (15%) grapes. This is a well-structured wine, fermented in stainless steel vats at controlled temperatures. It aged for six months in stainless steel and a further 12 months in bottle.
The Rosé 2021, produced from Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Alfrocheiro, Jaen, and Tinta Pinheira grapes, is practically a light red wine, with floral notes and soft tannins. It offers freshness despite being a wine with some intensity.
The Primado Tinto 2015, made from Touriga Nacional (40%), Tinta Roriz (30%), and a blend of Alfrocheiro, Jaen, and Tinta Pinheira (30%), is a traditionally styled wine with great complexity and intensity, expressing the characteristics of the region.
Exclusively made from Tinta Roriz, the Primado SB 2021 is a young, vibrant red wine, with no wood contact and a short ageing period: six months in stainless steel and another six months in bottle.
This wine complements the producer’s range, created as a tribute to his daughters Sofia and Benedita. It showcases fresh fruit, with an exuberant nose, and red fruit dominating on the palate. It is a wine that delivers great pleasure and pairs wonderfully with sushi.
Finally, the Family Cellar Edition 2013, made from Touriga Nacional (60%), Tinta Roriz (25%), and a blend of Alfrocheiro, Jaen, and Tinta Pinheira (15%), stands out for its elegance and tells the story of Primado, written with precision and elevated to a rarity.
António Catarino
