2024 · Alvarinho Dona Paterna

Founded in 1974, Dona Paterna is based at Quinta da Carvalheira in Paderne, Melgaço, within the Monção and Melgaço subregion of Vinho Verde. The project grew from one of Melgaço’s first continuously planted Alvarinho vineyards and is closely associated with Carlos Alberto Codesso, whose approximately 50 years of experience span viticulture and winemaking. The estate’s granite, south-facing slopes and local microclimate shape its Alvarinho-focused wines. Dona Paterna combines modern fermentation technology with ancestral winemaking processes to express different, authentic profiles. The producer also emphasizes sustainable management, biodiversity, responsible resource use, reduced environmental impact, and respect for the territory, which lies near Peneda-Gerês National Park. Its work includes collaboration with local producers and a broader commitment to showcasing Alvarinho as the defining grape of Monção and Melgaço.