Casal da Coelheira, White, 2022

Grapes

Fernão Pires, Arinto

Vintage report

The 2022 growing season in Alentejo was defined by heat and drought — and plenty of both. A dry winter meant water reserves were already low before summer arrived, and when it did, it came hard. Temperatures across the Alentejo plain pushed into extremes that would have devastated a less adapted region, but the indigenous varieties here — Aragonez, Trincadeira, Alicante Bouschet — have spent centuries learning to cope. Yields were down across the board, concentrating what remained on the vine. Those who managed their canopies well and picked at the right moment landed some serious fruit.

What ended up in the bottle is rich, structured, and built for the medium to long term. The reds have real density without being overworked — deep, sun-baked fruit held together by firm tannins and the kind of natural acidity Alentejo can struggle to preserve in hot years but largely managed here. Whites and rosés from the vintage drank well young, but the reds repay patience. Most serious examples are drinking well now with food, though the best will continue to reward cellaring until 2027 to 2030 and beyond.