Fitapreta
Maçanita launched his first winery in 2004 in the Évora district of Alentejo with his friend and mentor, the British viticulturalist David Booth. From the start, Fitapreta Vinhos set out to bring a fine wine mentality to this prolific yet rustic wine region, pushing the boundaries of the caliber of wine possible there. Booth passed away suddenly quite early in the partnership, but Fitapreta today reflects his legacy: the winery has become one of the preeminent estates in this ancient Roman viticultural area. Like all things Maçanita, it combines old and new, home to a modern winery that complements its 14th-century hermitage and chapel, the latter of which was home to the ruins of the region’s oldest cellar.
Philosophy
An expert blender of wine and philosophy, Maçanita’s work combines both innovation and ancient tradition. He is known for his forward-thinking and playful “firsts,” such as the production of Portugal’s first blanc de noirs wine and its first amphora-aged wine, and for being the first to commercialize hybrid varietals in the Azores—even though it was prohibited! When his attention is in the historical rearview, his dedication to the revitalization of the old and historic is unmatched, from the estate winery he built in Alentejo on the bones of a 14th century monastery and farm, to his painstaking work reviving dozens of varietals not seen in commercial winemaking for in centuries. Between these two poles of past and future lie António’s core philosophies: a respect for nature informed by common sense; an embrace of heritage and tradition without sentimentality; zero fear of failure; playful exploration of place, time, technique; and endless imagined possibilities.
Biography
António was born in Lisbon into an Azorean-Alentejano family known for its hospitality, passion, and fun. The Maçanita family had no formal winemaking background, but from a young age, he embraced the clan’s love of academic and scientific pursuits, plus loads of healthy competition: both António and younger sister Joana are feisty winemaker-colleagues now, and both were once athletes with Portuguese national teams. Young António’s first introduction to wine took place at just four years old, when he learned to foot-tread grapes during a family vacation in the Azores. By the time he reached young adulthood, António’s lifelong passion for agriculture outweighed his interest in marine biology (although he remains an avid surfer and angler) and he entered the renowned Institute of Agronomy (ISA) in Lisbon. After completing his degree, he gained experience and perspective through internships with a diverse group of iconic wineries, such as Chateau Lynch-Bages (Pauillac) in Bordeaux, Merryvale Vineyards and Rudd Estate in Napa, and D’Arenberg in Australia. He returned to Portugal inspired, with the ambitious goal of bringing international varietals—and international attention—to the underrated appellations of his home country. Years later, the work that placed Maçanita on the world stage was ultimately closer to home: his exploration and vinification of the viticultural, geological, and architectural treasures of Portugal’s winemaking areas. His passion for uncovering details lost to time and then issuing a modern interpretation using cutting-edge technology and a scientific approach are what make António the standard-bearer for the New Portugal.
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