Handford Wines

João António Cerdeira was once a tax inspector in Melgaço, Portugal’s most northerly town. His father owned a series of small vineyards of Alvarinho, sending the grapes into the local Coop. In 1974 João António returned from two years military service in Mozambique, disillusioned with what he saw. Soon after, Portugal’s dictatorship was overthrown in the April Revolution, and with it, the endemic despondency that affected small farmers. This was the spur that he needed to develop the potential of his family’s vineyards. Filled with revolutionary spirit he illegally planted 4 hectares of Alvarinho, the biggest single vineyard in the region, knowing that one day a few “strings” could be pulled to legalise things. He hasn’t looked back. His first wine was the 1982, the 1989 achieved countrywide recognition and the 1996 is being hailed as being Portugal’s finest Alvarinho. Also he now makes a Sparkling and a barrel fermented Alvarinho.

The Wine

Portugal's answer to Rias Baixas and the Albarino revlution. One of our favourite wines that is sheer class. Perfect for summer drinking and all food matches. Pure Alvarinho as they call it, that stands up to the best versions from Spain. Crisp, fresh acidity, lovely mineral and yellow stone fruit depth and a slight textural grip that makes the wine well shaped in the mouth and perfect with food.

Single Bottle: £13.99

In a case of 12: £13.29