muxagat
Susana Lopes
meda
douro valley - portugal
story…
Established in 2002 by mateus Nicolau de Almeida & Eduardo Lopes with the intention of producing wines from the local varieties of the region. The estate is now under the sole ownership of the Lopes family & headed up the second generation of the family to work in the wine business, Susana Lopes. Susana represents an important transition in the family estate, one that many estate goes through as things are passed down to the next generation. She is wholeheartedly dedicated to maintaining what her father had built, while also having a firm eye on moving forward. She has become a bit of a force in this small pocket of the Douro Valley. She has brought on her good friend Luis Seabra, a man who has been extremely instrumental in the changes occuring in Portugal today, as consulting winemaker alongside their in house winemaker.
Originally based in a small garage in the tiny village of Muxagata, from which they derive the name of their estate Muxagat (moo-sha-got). They found success with their wines rather quickly & by 2003 they had moved their production to an abandoned winery facility in the town of Meda, which is where they have remained since. Meda is located in the south eastern corner of the Douro Superior situated just a short distance from the Spanish border. The facility consists of a centuries old barn, which was abandoned by the previous winery during the revolution in 1974, that houses the winery facility.
farming & Philosophy…
One of the major investments that Susana has brought to the winery is her focus on long term sustainability. Implementing organic farming practices in all of their vineyards, as well as ensuring they preserve the natural diversity of the region. Susana has also brought a new focus, with some guidance by Luis Seabra, on the production of single varietal wines. A practice that has historically not been common in the Douro. Much of the replanting that occurs on the estate, all with massale selection cuttings, is done with a focus towards the production of more single varietal bottlings.
Production is best described as traditional & minimalist. Fruit is all hand harvested in small baskets, then hand sorted at the facility. Wine is transferred throughout the facility by gravity flow. All fermentations take place with native/ambient yeasts. Some the red wine production is foot trodden in the old granite lagars that existed in the facility prior to Muxagat moving in. A combination of inox stainless steel, old oak & concrete eggs can be found througout the facility that are used for fermentations & aging.
Vineyards…
Their vineyards are spread out across the southern reaches of the Douro Superior, all within a short drive to the winery in Meda. With holdings in & around the town of Meda as well as in Muxagata, which is just northeast of Meda & in Fonte Longa, which lies almost due north from Meda.
