Adega Marel
Adega Marel, guided by the ethos "We Are Our Heritage," is nestled in the captivating Alentejo sub-region of Granja-Amareleja. Situated along the left bank of the Guadiana River, in the quaint village of Amareleja, this region is renowned for its scorching temperatures, presenting a formidable challenge to grape cultivation.
This is no ordinary winery; it's a labor of love undertaken by a passionate and youthful team. Adega Marel's inception was driven by a profound appreciation for "Vinho de Talha" (Amphora or Clay Pot Wine) of Amareleja, a profound connection to its people, customs, and traditions.
The heart of Amareleja beats to the rhythm of Talha wine, an integral part of daily life, culture, and identity. It has deep historical roots, dating back over two millennia to the Roman era. Today, it continues to be a central thread in the social fabric, with families crafting their own wines in talhas, typically for personal use and communal gatherings. So deeply ingrained is this tradition that you'll even find Adega Marel wines named after cherished family members. Over generations, the art of crafting wine in clay pots has been lovingly passed down, evolving slightly with each local tradition. The result is a wine of unparalleled richness and diversity.
Amareleja's landscape is an enchanting tapestry of small plots, predominantly adorned with vineyards and olive groves. Adega Marel's commitment to preserving ancient vineyards and native grape varieties is evident in its meticulous acquisition of long, narrow plots known as "courelas." These courelas bear the names of their former stewards, a tribute to their enduring dedication.
Let's explore some of Adega Marel's remarkable vineyards:
Agulhas: Planted with the Moreto grape variety in 2015, Agulhas vineyard, adjacent to Narra, showcases exceptional grape development. Its sandy soils, with minimal pebble presence, underscore the region's micro-diversity.
Asper: Covering 2.5 hectares of old vines, Asper features the Diagalves grape variety, intermingled with strains of Moreto. It shares sandy soil characteristics with the neighboring Agulhas vineyard.
Bancaleiro: This six-acre vineyard, aged over 20 years, cultivates the Moreto and Trincadeira grape varieties. Its grapes are destined for crafting the renowned red Talha Wine.
Narra Brancos: Comprising two "courelas" traversed by a watercourse, Narra Brancos boasts sandy loam soils with pronounced pebble and rock presence. Grape varieties include Antão Vaz, Rabo-de-Ovelha, and, more recently, Encruzado.
Narra Tintos: Another segment of the earliest vineyard acquisitions, Narra Tintos comprises several "courelas," each with distinct grape varieties. Spanning approximately 11 acres, this vineyard features sandy clay loam soil, punctuated by an abundance of pebbles. Grape varieties include Alicante Bouschet, Aragonez, Trincadeira, and Touriga Nacional.
Pura: The oldest registered vineyard, dating back to 1931, potentially even older, Pura encompasses around four acres and boasts the Diagalves (or Pendura) grape variety, destined for crafting Talha Wine.
Raimundo: Planted in 2020, Raimundo vineyard introduces the Roupeiro, Trincadeira das Prata, and Perrum varieties into the repertoire.
Adega Marel stands as a testament to the deep-rooted traditions and unwavering commitment to preserving the heritage of Amareleja. Through its remarkable vineyards and devotion to crafting Talha Wine, Adega Marel invites you to savor the essence of this extraordinary land.
Here, history and passion converge in every bottle, offering a truly exceptional wine experience.
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This wine results of a blend of four grape varieties: Aragonez, Alicante Bouschet, Touriga Nacional, and Trincadeira. The different varieties were harvested in rigorous accordance with their state of maturation. Therefore, each fermentation process has been individualized. The grapes were destemmed, crushed and fermented in stainless steel vats at a controlled temperature of 26-28° C. The care taken with the extraction was common, through a smooth process of pumpovers. After fermentation, the new wines remained separated by grape varieties in stainless steel vats.
Producer: Adega Marel
Winemaker: Tiago Macena
Region: Alentejo (Granja Amareleja)
Style: Red
Grape Varietals: Aragonez, Alicante Bouschet, Touriga Nacional, Trincadeira
Tasting Notes: Intense garnet, violet and brilliant ruby color. The aroma has rich and concentrated notes of ripe fruit, plum, floral, and ripe black fruits. Clean aroma and good exuberance. In the mouth, it has an excellent balance, with a lively acidity and a good volume. It is rich and textured, ending long and pleasant.
Pairing: Given its intensity, youthfulness and the acidity to balance, it becomes versatile at the table. Accompanies charcuterie dishes, half-cured sheep's cheese and grilled or oven meats. This profile is also very well suited for pasta and pizzas.
Ratings: Coming Soon
A field blend of native grape varieties – Antão Vaz, Diagalves, Roupeiro and Manteúdo. This wine has its origin in the grapes of the oldest vineyard plot we manage. The synergy of this mixed planting of native varieties, makes this place unique.
In the cellar, the grapes harvested by hand into 15 kg boxes, are destemmed and placed on talhas (amphora). In 2019, the entire lot of grapes from this vineyard fitted into a single talha, that we call “Talha Grande” (Big Amphora). Having been born together, together they became wine in a peaceful way. This plot was harvested on September 9th, 2019.
The fermentation took place smoothly, with the native yeasts and with some stirring of the cap. It fermented in full contact with the skins, in a process that lasted approximately a month.
The new wine remained in full skin contact until mid-January 2020 – a time when the wine seemed balanced, and in a good momentum to leave the skins. We only used the free run wine, which flowed through, filtered through its skins.
We transferred this wine into a stainless-steel tank where it remained until bottling, in May 2020.
Producer: Adega Marel
Winemaker: Tiago Macena
Region: Alentejo (Granja Amareleja)
Style: White
Grape Varietals: Antão Vaz, Diagalves, Roupeiro, Manteúdo
Tasting Notes: Straw yellow, light gold, and bright color. The aroma is discovered slowly but with enormous complexity right from the start. The earthy, savory impact of the clay blends in with notes of ripe fruit, quince marmalade, orange jam, and pear. Rich and intense. The mouth is intense and full, balanced by the firmness of elegant tannins. The acidity is vivid and surprising, bringing it balance and enormous length and complexity.
Pairing: First of all, a contemplation wine, must be tasted in good company. A successful partnership with various appetizers like cured cheeses, cold meats, olives, pork cracklings and fried fish is guaranteed. A wine that goes together with good conversations. The rich structure and broad volume in the mouth allows a pairing with a wide variety of delicacies at the table. Faithful to its traditions, proudly accompanies the regional dishes like “Caldo de Bacalhau” (Cod Broth) or “Caldo de Peixe da Ribeira” (River Fish Broth). It also goes very well with grilled meats, given its rich structure.
Ratings: Coming Soon
A blend based on a trio of grape varieties, mainly made from Antão Vaz, then supported by Rabo de Ovelha and Diagalves. For greater freshness, the harvest was made in two stages. In an initial phase, we harvested Rabo de Ovelha, leaving Antão Vaz and Diagalves for a later harvest. We wanted to maintain a profile of greater freshness, allied with a greater ripening of the fruit, which Antão Vaz allows us. Diagalves brought an additional complexity to the blend, both in terms of aroma and mouth volume.
Fully fermented in stainless steel with controlled temperature at 14 - 16° C, we tried to preserve the fruit and maintain its youthfulness. After fermentation, the gross lees were transferred. Kept in stainless steel, it had some bâtonnage during the first 2 months, after fermentation. It was bottled after 6 months in stainless steel.
Producer: Adega Marel
Winemaker: Tiago Macena
Region: Alentejo (Granja Amareleja)
Style: White
Grape Varietals: Antão Vaz, Rabo de Ovelha, Diagalves
Tasting Notes: Intense garnet, violet and brilliant ruby color. The aroma has rich and concentrated notes of ripe fruit, plum, floral, and ripe black fruits. Clean aroma and good exuberance. In the mouth, it has an excellent balance, with a lively acidity and a good volume. It is rich and textured, ending long and pleasant.
Pairing: Given its freshness and mouth volume, it is a good company for grilled fish or consistent salads based on pasta and / or white meat - such as Caesar Salad. Another option of a more regional nature is the traditional “Sopa de Cação” (Dogfish Soup). It will also be a good partner of barbecues as well as pastas and pizzas.
Ratings: Coming Soon
This rose results from the harvest, on the same day, of “Moreto” and “Touriga Nacional” varieties. On August 24, 2021, “Touriga Nacional”, with a more advanced maturation, added a riper fruit and floral nuances. “Moreto”, with a earlier maturation, contributed to the blend with more herbal elements and higher acidity.
Upon arrival at the winery, both grape varieties were pressed with the entire bunch, seeking a smooth extraction. The must was cold decanted for about 24 hours and, subsequently, the clean must was fermented in stainless steel at a controlled temperature of 14 – 16°C, in order to preserve the fruit and maintain its youthfulness. The press must – around 10% of the total volume – with more bitter notes and more colour, fermented naturally in a small “talha”. After fermentation, we added a 3% of this clay fermented press juice into the bigger rose blend.
Bottled after 8 months, in stainless steel storage.
Producer: Adega Marel
Winemaker: Tiago Macena
Region: Alentejo (Granja Amareleja)
Style: Rosé
Grape Varietals: Touriga Nacional, Moreto
Tasting Notes: Cherry-colored, soft in tone, and with little intensity. Aromatically, it is delicate. It has nuances of red fruits (raspberry, strawberry), with a note of dry vegetables (thyme) and a floral touch of lavender that adds complexity. In the mouth, it has an excellent balance presenting a lively acidity and a good volume. It is rich, textured, ends long and pleasant.
Pairing: Given its volume in the mouth and crunchiness, it pairs well with savory snacks. Its acidity and light body also make it desirable for pizzas, pasta, fresh, light dishes, or even slightly spicy dishes!
Ratings: Coming Soon
This wine result from the union of two worlds of oenology, with a history that begins in the vineyards: from a younger vineyard (about a decade old) comes a batch of Trincadeira, and from the older vines, a batch of Moreto and Trincadeira, with their long history, a wide planting compass, and self- supporting bush vines.
We treated these grapes distinctly: the Trincadeira, from the newest vineyard, was vinified according to the most recent and common techniques – after the harvest, the grapes were destemmed and crushed, followed by fermentation in stainless steel vats, at a controlled temperature of 26-28oC. The extraction was smooth. After fermentation, the wine was kept in stainless steel. The old vine grapes, on the other hand, were treated in the light of the most ancient knowledge, as vinho de talha (amphora wine): the grapes were destemmed and fermented in untreated clay pots, only with the action of native yeasts and without temperature control. In a long and quiet fermentation, the wine and the skins were separated in January, after four months of skin contact.
The Trincadeira wine, from the newest vineyard, and talha wine, were blended together in March 2020. The blend was kept in stainless steel for twelve months, harmonizing details until filling, in March 2021. It was bottled unfiltered.
Producer: Adega Marel
Winemaker: Tiago Macena
Region: Alentejo (Granja Amareleja)
Style: Red
Grape Varietals: Moreto, Trincadeira
Tasting Notes: Visually, it presents a ruby color with good intensity and many violet reflections. The aroma reveals contention and complexity at first. It shows red fruit, strawberries, plums, cherries, and herbal notes. Time in the glass brings earthy notes. The mouth is rich and textured, with tannins present, yet tamed by the clay.
Pairing: First of all, a contemplation wine, it can be tasted in good company, as a partner to a cured sheep cheese – like Nisa's for example, broken into small pieces, in the Amareleja style. Goes well with stewed meats, including game. Given our origins, it combines harmoniously with grilled iberian pork with migas, being also a great partner for cheeses and charcuterie.
Ratings: Coming Soon
In this wine, made based on two worlds of oenology, we blended more than grape varieties. The history of this wine begins in the vineyard. We joined the Antão Vaz, from a vineyard with 10 years old, with the grapes from our oldest vines - Diagalves, and other local varieties not registered.
We treated these grapes differently: The Antão Vaz was treated in the light of the most recent and common techniques. Pressed grapes, shortly after harvest, fermented in stainless steel at a controlled temperature of 14 - 16 oC. Kept in stainless steel, after fermentation, with a slight bâtonnage of fine lees for 2 months. On the other hand, the grapes from our older vineyards, which are mainly represented by Diagalves, were treated in the light of the most ancient knowledge – totally treated as vinho de talha (amphora wine), it fermented in untreated talhas. The grapes were destemmed and the skins were in full contact with the juice, with its native yeasts and without temperature control. In a long and calm fermentation, the wine and the skins were separated in January, with 4 months of skin contact.
Both entities of this blend, Antão Vaz and Diagalves, were blended together in January, having been harmonizing details in stainless steel for another 5 months.
Producer: Adega Marel
Winemaker: Tiago Macena
Region: Alentejo (Granja Amareleja)
Style: White
Grape Varietals: Antão Vaz, Diagalves
Tasting Notes: It has a very fresh and intense aroma, where the seductive aromas of violet and wild berries from the Douro stand out. In the mouth, very elegant and balanced, with a lot of concentration of red fruit, evolving into a wine with excellent volume and solid structure, with fresh tannins with a fine and elegant texture. A wine with a captivating, long and persistent finish.
Pairing: First of all, a contemplation wine, it can be tasted in good company, as a partner to a cured sheep cheese – like Nisa's for example, broken into small pieces, in the Amareleja style. A wine to accompany good conversations. It harmonizes well with oven fish dishes and stewed meats. It has structure, volume and acidity to hold up even with grilled meats. Looking at our origins, it will gladly accompany a traditional broth of Cod (Caldo de Bacalhau), or any other recipe prepared with cod.
Ratings: Coming Soon
Grapes of the Moreto variety, from two old vines – the “Bancaleiro” vine and the “Asper” vine. Harvested on the 2nd of September 2020, seeking to maintain some freshness in this late maturing rustic variety.
Hand-picked, for 15 kg boxes, they were de-stemmed, trying to keep the berries as intact as possible. From the destemmer, Moreto's grapes went to two talhas (clay pots) – the “Commissário” talha and the “Mal-Talhado” talha.
It is interesting to clarify that the names of the vines and talhas are the nicknames of the former owners that we use internally as a tribute to their work legacy!
Fermentation went on without any troubles, made with native yeasts and with some stirring of the blanket. It fermented in full contact with the skins, in a fermentation that lasted about a month.
The new wine remained in skin contact until January 13, 2021 – time when it seemed well balanced and ready to leave the skins. We only used free-run wine naturally filtered by the skins themselves and by a cane filled with segdge.
We transferred these two Moreto wines to a stainless-steel tank where the blend was kept harmonizing until bottling, in August 2021. Before bottling, we carried out a very light filtration.
Producer: Adega Marel
Winemaker: Tiago Macena
Region: Alentejo (Granja Amareleja)
Style: Red
Grape Varietals: Moreto
Tasting Notes: Open ruby-red color. The aroma is complex with good intensity. Earthy and slightly smoky notes are predominant, with well-integrated red fruit such as strawberry and plum. Herbal nuances start to appear like thyme and also a slight aroma of cherry jam. The mouth is impressive with its juicy freshness. Medium body. The tannins have a smooth, crunchy texture, finishing long and complex.
Pairing: Contemplation wine. Must, above all, be drunk in good company. Wine for good conversations and socialization. It will be a successful partner for various appetizers - cured cheeses, cold meats, olives, patty cracklings and fried fish. The rich structure and mouth amplitude will allow it to accompany a wide variety of delicacies at the table. It goes very well with grilled meat, given its rich structure and juicy acidity.
Ratings: Coming Soon
Tiago Maçena - Winemaker
A leading figure in the Portuguese wine industry, poised to become the country’s first Master of Wine. With a deep-rooted passion for the grape, he has dedicated his career to crafting exceptional wines that reflect the unique terroir of Portugal.
Holding degrees in Agronomical Engineering and Wine Business, Macena has honed his craft through extensive experience working with both large-scale and boutique wineries throughout the country. His expertise is particularly sought after in the Dão, Douro, and Alentejo regions.
A staunch advocate for Portugal's wine heritage, Macena is committed to preserving indigenous grape varieties and traditional winemaking techniques. His work at Adega Marel in Alentejo exemplifies this philosophy, as he focuses on revitalizing old vines and championing the production of "Talha" wine.
Tiago Macena's pursuit of the Master of Wine title is a testament to his unwavering dedication to excellence. His success in the rigorous practical exam underscores his exceptional knowledge and skills as a winemaker. As he completes his thesis, the wine world eagerly anticipates the crowning achievement of Portugal's first Master of Wine.
