Fitapreta Vinhos

Portugal
Written By Expert Marketeers
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Fitapreta Vinhos

Alentejo, Portugal

 
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Widely regarded as one of the most dynamic young winemakers in Portugal, António Maçanita crafts wines from the Azores archipelago to Alentejo, each one capturing the essence of the regional terroir and traditions.

In addition to founding and owning Azores Wine Co. and FitaPreta, Antonio is a consultant winemaker for numerous other wineries in Portugal through his company Wine ID. His first harvest experience was at four years old, playing amongst the vines while grapes were being picked. He's gone on to work in wineries in Napa, Australia, and Bordeaux, before returning to Portugal to change the landscape of modern Portuguese wine.

Antonio was named 2018 Winemaker of the Year in Revista de Vinhos Magazine, as well as awarded the 2018 Singularity Award by Revista Grandes Escolhas. And Azores Wine Company was named Company of the Year at the 2021 Grandes Escolhas Awards. The company's winery, Adega Pico, also won the BigMat National Prize for Architecture in Portugal 2023, and a RIBA International Award for Excellence 2024. Most recently António was named Winemaker of the Year in the Tim Atkin Portugal 2026 Special Report.

António and resident English viticulture consultant, David Booth met for the first time in early 2004. Over the next few months, a close friendship developed and when the opportunity came up to buy some pretty special grapes from some Alentejo vineyards that David was managing, and António was able to rent some space in a local winery, the business rapidly took shape and Fitapreta Vinhos was founded.

Their distinctive, rich and complex wines that are the result of applying their specialist skills with huge personal attention to detail at every point in the production chain; from vineyard site selection, grape growing, harvesting, fermentation, maturing, label design, marketing and distribution.

Featured
Palpite Tinto Reserva 2022
Palpite Tinto Reserva 2022
from CA$51.00

Fitapreta Vinhos

FitaPreta Vinhos
Palpite Reserva

Palpite is FitaPreta's top wine that they make every year. This year's blends Alicante Bouschet, Aragonez, Castelão Trincadeira, with 12% other indigenous varieties, all grown on Alentejo's yellow schists and granites and from vines 20-50 years. After a native ferment this aged 18 months in French oak prior to bottling.

Full bodied and muscular, with chewy cassis, dusky black plums, pipe tobacco working through the fleshy palate. Acidity is tart, and tannins are ample and dense, framing this through the peppery finish. One for grilled steaks now, or to settle for a couple of years.

Read more about Fitapreta Vinhos.

Vintage: 2022
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 6
Price per Bottle: $51
Style: Still

Region: Alentejo
Appellation: VR Alentejo
Country: Portugal

Grape: Blend
Colour: Red
Vegan: No
Organic: No
Biodynamic: No
Natural: No
Low Intervention: Yes

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Tinto o Iluminista
Tinto o Iluminista
from CA$28.00

Fitapreta Vinhos

Fitapreta Vinhos
Tinto o Iluminista

Now with a new label and name, this is the revamped FitaPreta Tinto of past. This characterful blend of Aragonez, Alfrocheiro, Moreto, Alicante Bouschet, Tinta Carvalha, and Castelão comes from the rocky schistous and granite vineyards of Alentejo and vines planted 1979-1989 at 300-400m. After the berries were popped and native fermented in stainless, they rested in French barrel over 1 year prior to bottling.

Wild blackberry, plum, and boysenberry flood the juicy palate, scented with rockrose and herbal scrub, and lingering with cracked pepper. Tannins are sticky, but well absorbed into the lifted red. A lovely characterful Alentejo.

Read more about Fitapreta Vinhos here.

Vintage: 2023
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 12
Price per Bottle: $28
Style: Still

Region: Alentejo
Appellation: VR Alentejano
Country: Portugal

Grape: Blend
Colour: Red
Vegan: No
Organic: No
Biodynamic: No
Natural: No
Low Intervention: Yes

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Branco o Ancestral
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Branco o Ancestral
from CA$22.00

FitaPreta Vinhos

FitaPreta Vinhos
Branco o Ancestral

Now with a new front label, with the addition of 'o Ancestral', this Branco blends Roupeiro, Rabo de Ovelha, Antão Vaz, Tamarez, Alicante Branco, and Arinto from 2 organic vineyards in Alentejo's granitic and limestone soils, and vines from 30-50 years, up to 400m in altitude. After a whole bunch press and a native ferment in primarily stainless barrels (the second pressing goes into older barrels), this remained there on lees for six months before bottling.

Meadow grass, elderflower, and white grapefruit sail along the sleek, lifted palate, scented with pine nuts and lit with a buzzy grip that lingers on the finish. Juicy and bright and full of energy.

"A field blend of Roupeiro, Rabo de Ovelha, Arinto, Tamarez, Alicante Branco, Antão Vaz. Real tang, life and refreshment. Lots of green-fruit flavours and potential for ageing. Still very youthful and tense. Drink 2026-2030.” - 16.5/20 points, Jancis Robinson, September 30, 2025

Read more about Fitapreta Vinhos.

Vintage: 2024
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 12
Price per Bottle: $22
Style: Still

Region: Alentejo
Appellation: VR Alentejano
Country: Portugal

Grape: Blend
Colour: White
Vegan: No
Organic: No
Biodynamic: No
Natural: No
Low Intervention: Yes

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a Laranja Mecânica
a Laranja Mecânica
from CA$30.00

hidden first line: Fitapreta Vinhos Mecanica Mecânica

Fitapreta Vinhos
a Laranja Mecânica

This is Antonio Maçanita's Clockwork Orange. Arinto, Roupeiro, Verdelho, Antão Vaz, Alincante Branco, Trincadeira-das-Pratas, Fernão Pires make up the Alentejo coferment blend, from various granite-soiled vineyards and vines 15-50 years old. After the first whole bunch pressing, 10-15% of the remaining juice macerated on the skins for a week, and then was pressed again and reunited with the whole, where it native fermented. It remained in stainless on lees until it was bottled, unfiltered, the following fall.

Pouring a hazy golden orange hue, this textural white draws honeycomb, apricot, bergamot, lime peel, and marmalade along the buzzy palate, with a lingering salinity and citrus twist. Super smart, food-friendly, and balanced, this works for solo sipping or with foods.

Read more about Fitapreta Vinhos.

Vintage: NV
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 12
Price per Bottle: $30
Style: Still

Region: Alentejo
Appellation: VR Alentejano
Country: Portugal

Grape: Blend
Colour: Orange
Vegan: No
Organic: No
Biodynamic: No
Natural: No
Low Intervention: Yes

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Tinta Carvalha Chão dos Eremitas
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Tinta Carvalha Chão dos Eremitas
from CA$69.00

Fitapreta Vinhos

Fitapreta Vinhos
Tinta Carvalha Chão dos Eremitas

Hermits of the order of São Paulo, had been making their wine in the Chão dos Eremitas vineyard since at least the 14th C. Tinta Carvalha is a cross from the ancient varieties of Sarigo and Alfrocheiro Preto, and a half-sibling to Castelão and Moreto. This is the only single-varietal bottling commercially known, from 51 year old vines rooted in the Chão dos Ermitas vineyard’s granitic soils. This was 30% whole bunch, native fermented and macerated 40 days, followed by 12 months in stainless. Pouring a lighter red hue, this slight red is gripped with finely sticky tannins, housing wild raspberry, wild strawberry, wax, perfumed wildflowers, and tea leaves. Acidity is lofted, taking this to the haunting white pepper finish. Charming and characterful, and one to enjoy with a light chill. 4197 bottles produced.

“The 2019 Tinta Carvalha Chão dos Eremitas Vinhas Velhas is unoaked and comes in at 14.5% alcohol. Light in color and obviously rather pure and transparent, this seems like a fruitier or at least, more expressive, wine than the 2018 previously reviewed, granting that both are not here together. It retains some basic features of the 2018, though, including the freshness and the light touch, not to mention a fairly high price tag, but it seems riper. With the 2018, there was intrigue but an "incomplete" feel. This year, I lean more to the "carried away" side of the ledger. The fruit is simply delicious. Bottling this unoaked was an inspired touch. The mid-palate finesse is admirable. The silky texture is very appealing, while the freshness makes the fruit sing. I still wonder where this new brand from this rather obscure grape is going, but this is certainly a wine I would like to drink. In that regard, it can be drunk today, and it may do a little better a couple of degrees cooler than normal. It should hold for most of the decade, maybe more, but we'll take that in stages. If you're in the "drink early" camp, it should be an enticing warm-weather red that will be perfect this coming summer. Choose your food pairings carefully to go with its lighter style, but this is something that might do well on its own as well. There were just 4,395 bottles produced. Drink 2022 - 2029.” - 92 points, Mark Squires, Wine Advocate, October 14, 2021.

Read more about Fitapreta Vinhos.

Vintage: 2020
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 6
Price per Bottle: $69
Style: Still

Region: Alentejo
Appellation: VR Alentejano
Country: Portugal

Grape: Tinta Carvalha
Colour: Red
Vegan: No
Organic: No
Biodynamic: No
Natural: No
Low Intervention: Yes

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Castelão Chão dos Eremitas
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Castelão Chão dos Eremitas
from CA$58.00

Fitapreta Vinhos

Fitapreta Vinhos
Castelão Chão dos Eremitas

Hermits of the order of São Paulo, had been making their wine in the Chão dos Eremitas vineyard since at least the 14th C. From 51 year old vines in granitic soils in the Southern foothills of Serra d’Ossa, this was 30% whole bunch, and native fermentated and macerated over 35 days, prior to resting one year in barrels. Black cherry, black raspberry is rinsed with balsamic, and wrought with furry, grippy tannins through the finish. Acidity is bright, easily lifting this 14% red. Take with a slight chill, and as an accompaniment to wild mushrooms / pork.

“The 2019 Castelão Chão dos Eremitas was aged for 18 months in used and neutral wood. It comes in at 13.7% alcohol. Somewhat different than the winery's Tinto de Castelão, this is silkier and at the same time more overtly fruity. It is bold without being jammy. Without a doubt, though, the biggest difference here is that this is better structured. Tight and powerful on the finish, this can still be approached now, but just barely. Give it a year or so if you can. It should age well, so there is no rush. It's pretty delicious even now, but that may actually improve as it ages and opens. Drink 2023 - 2037.” - 94+ points, Mark Squires, Wine Advocate, July 29, 2022.

Read more about Fitapreta Vinhos.

Vintage: 2019
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 6
Price per Bottle: $58
Style: Still

Region: Alentejo
Appellation: VR Alentejano
Country: Portugal

Grape: Castelão
Colour: Red
Vegan: No
Organic: No
Biodynamic: No
Natural: No
Low Intervention: Yes

Read more →
Moreto Chão dos Eremitas
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Moreto Chão dos Eremitas
from CA$69.00

Fitapreta Vinhos

Fitapreta Vinhos
Moreto Chão dos Eremitas

Hermits of the order of São Paulo, had been making their wine in the Chão dos Eremitas vineyard since at least the 14th C. This is Moreto (50 year old vines), a crossing between Sarigo and Alfrocheiro Preto. 30% was bled off to give concentration before fermentation with 30% whole bunch, over 40 days. Post ferment, this rested one year in older barrels. Juicy plum, wild raspberry, cherry, pomegranate is wrapped with fine, firm, tannins. Acidity is bright, lifting the textural medium-bodied red to a spiced, tart finish. Quite characterful and special.

“The 2019 Moreto Chão de Eremitas, sourced from 50-year-old vines, is described by the winery as a descendant of Alfrocheiro and a relative of Castelão. This was aged for 18 months in neutral wood and comes in at 14.2% alcohol. Tight and bright, this is a precise wine that has plenty of pop and power. It also has plenty of flavor but a backward demeanor. Unlike most of the winery's reds in this report, this is going to need a little more time just to moderate the tannins. Once it comes together, you'll notice that the mid-palate finesse is exceptional and the long, flavorful finish is too. It will be interesting to see how this evolves, but it looks like the winery has found the answer here to this rare monovarietal (but influential grape on Alentejo). I could easily see this exceeding my currently high expectations for it in a few years, but let's remain a little conservative at least. There were 1,700 bottles produced. Drink 2024 - 2037.” - 97 points, Mark Squires, Wine Advocate, July 29, 2022.

Read more about Fitapreta Vinhos.

Vintage: 2019
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 6
Price per Bottle: $69
Style: Still

Region: Alentejo
Appellation: DOC Alentejo
Country: Portugal

Grape: Moreto
Colour: Red
Vegan: No
Organic: No
Biodynamic: No
Natural: No
Low Intervention: Yes

Read more →
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Address:  Paço do Morgado de Oliveira, EM527 Km10, Nossa Senhora da Graça do Divor, 7000-016 Évora - Portugal
Website : https://www.fitapreta.com

 

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