Non-conformist, disruptive, difficult, audacious, restless and hot-tempered, these are some of the unconventional adjectives used to describe both António Maçanita, an oenologist and consultant, and the wines he produces. Now 39, Maçanita entered the world of wine in 2000 in the Azores, but it was only in 2004, at the age of 23, that he produced his first vintage. In these 15 years, he has revived abandoned grape varieties, such as Negra Mole in the Algarve and Terrantez do Pico in the Azores.
Where others are dismissive, António sees a challenge. Take the example of Branco de Tintas, the first wine he bottled in Portugal and an Alentejan protest wine developed in 2008 when CVRA decided to allow the purchase of white grapes from outside the region. Another momentous creation was Branco de Talha, in 2010, also the first of its kind in Portugal, which revived a Roman winemaking tradition and produced a subsequent renaissance. However, his revolutionary contribution is probably most visible in the Azores - Azorean grapes are today the most expensive in Portugal - where a battle is being waged today to legalise the use of aromatic vines, “beautiful vines, some over 150 years old”, as Maçanita, visibly proud and enthusiastic, describes them.
In 2018, António Maçanita won Revista dos Vinhos “Winemaker of the Year” award and Revista Grandes Escolhas “Outstanding Contribution Award 2018”. But even his very first wine - PRETA 2004 - was a prize-winner, earning the “Trophy Alentejo” at the International Wine Challenge. In 2016, he also won the magazine Paixão do Vinho’s 10th-anniversary (2006-2016) “Generation 21 Oenologist Trophy”. In the same year, Revista Wine voted Azores Wine Company “Best New Producer”. In 2016, the Azores Wine Company and its three shareholders won the “Project of the Year” and “Entrepreneurs of the Year” awards by 100 Maiores Empresas dos Açores, a magazine produced by Açoriano Oriental – the oldest daily newspaper in Portugal.
Two years later, the Revista de Vinhos voted Vinha Centenária, by the Azores Wine Company, one of the “Best Portuguese Wines 2018”. Every wine produced by António Maçanita, whether in the Alentejo, Douro or Azores, frequently wins over 90 points in Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, the world’s most important wine classification. António Maçanita produces wines in five different regions, has created three wholly-owned production projects, supports 12 producers through his consulting firm and puts, anually, 50 signature wines on the market.
António Maçanita started his wine production in the Alentejo, his mother’s homeplace, with FitaPreta Vinhos and Sexy Wines, before heading to the Azores, his father’s homeland in Pico, where he founded the Azores Wine Company. There, he dedicates to the recovery of autochthonous wine grape varieties in risk of extinction. Driven by the challenge itself , leaves to the Douro to start a “four hand” project with his sister Joana, also winemaker, and so Maçanita Vinhos - Irmãos e Enólogos was born. All his projects are the result of challenges, partnerships motivated by friendship and complicity of those who share the same mindset and passion for wine. All devotion, dedication to the terroirs and sustainable local development leads to the creation of special and unique wines, produced in small series, which can be distinguished by their quality, and Antonio´s care given and an almost alchemical originality when creating new blends. His love for challenges and his distinctive irreverence paired with his willingness to innovate generates new projects that quickly become a great successful adventure.
We turn ideas into wine!
Company created in 2006 by 3 winemakers, António Maçanita, Cláudia Favinha and Joana Maçanita is known in the market for its scientific approach to oenology, winemaking and vinification. They are also known (...)
94+/100
colheita 2015
Wine Advocate
Preta Cuvée
TINTO
18/20
colheita 2017
Revista Grandes Escolhas
93/100
colheita 2017
Wine Advocate
Palpite
TINTO
18/20
colheita 2018
Revista Grandes Escolhas
90/100
colheita 2018
Wine Advocate
Palpite
BRANCO
16,5/20
colheita 2018
Revista Grandes Escolhas
89/100
colheita 2018
Wine Advocate
Fitapreta
TINTO
17/20
colheita 2018
Revista Grandes Escolhas
Fitapreta
BRANCO
16,5/20
Revista de Vinhos
Rosé da Fitapreta
ROSÉ
17,5/20
colheita 2018
Revista Grandes Escolhas
90/100
colheita 2018
Wine Advocate
Branco de Talha
BRANCO
18/20
colheita 2017
Revista Grandes Escolhas
O Tinto do Pote de Barro TINTO
17,5/20
colheita 2018
Revista Grandes Escolhas
90/100
colheita 2018
Wine Advocate
Branco de Indigenas
BRANCO
17,5/20
colheita 2018
Revista Grandes Escolhas
91+/100
colheita 2015
Wine Advocate
Tinto Castelão
TINTO
17/20
colheita 2018
Revista Grandes Escolhas
92/100
colheita 2015
Wine Advocate
Baga ao Sol
TINTO
17/20
colheita 2018
Revista Grandes Escolhas
Baga a ½ Sol
TINTO
17/20
colheita 2018
Revista Grandes Escolhas
A Touriga vai Nua
TINTO
17/20
colheita 2018
Revista Grandes Escolhas
O Alfrocheiro tb quer estar nu TINTO
17,5/20
colheita 2018
Revista Grandes Escolhas
A Trincadeira não é tão preta TINTO
92/100
colheita 2018
Wine Advocate
Fina Flor
TINTO
17/20
colheita 2018
Revista Grandes Escolhas
Trincadeira-das-Pratas
BRANCO
18/20
colheita 2018
Revista Grandes Escolhas
Alicante Branco
BRANCO
18,5/20
colheita 2018
Revista Grandes Escolhas
Tinta Carvalha
TINTO
19/20
colheita 2016
Revista Evasões
Vinha Centenária
BRANCO
92/100
colheita 2018
Wine Advocate
Arinto dos Açores
BRANCO
93+/100
colheita 2018
Wine Advocate
Arinto dos Açores
Sur Lies BRANCO
91/100
colheita 2018
Wine Advocate
Verdelho o Original
BRANCO
92/100
colheita 2013
Wine Advocate
Terrantez do Pico
BRANCO
“3º Melhor vinho tinto de Portugal 2018”
Revista de Vinhos
18,5/20
colheita 2015
Revista Evasões
Sabor(z)inho
TINTO
16,5/20
Revista de Vinhos
A Proibida
TINTO
90/100
colheita 2017
Wine Advocate
Maçanita
BRANCO
88+/100
colheita 2018
90/100
colheita 2017
Wine Advocate
Maçanita
TINTO
90/100
colheita 2018
Wine Advocate
Touriga Nacional
em Rosé ROSÉ
92/100
colheita 2015
Wine Advocate
As Olgas
BRANCO
90+/100
colheita 2017
Wine Advocate
As Olgas
TINTO
91/100
colheita 2018
Wine Advocate
Gouveio by Joaninha
BRANCO
93/100
colheita 2017
94/100
colheita 2016
Wine Advocate
Quanto + Arinto +
Gosto de Ti BRANCO
93/100
colheita 2017
Wine Advocate
Canivéis
BRANCO
91/100
colheita 2016
Wine Advocate
Touriga Nacional Cima
Corgo TINTO
93/100
colheita 2015
Wine Advocate
Touriga Nacional
Douro Superior TINTO
90/100
colheita 2016
Wine Advocate
É Sousão ou será Vinhão TINTO
18/20
Revista Paixão Pelo Vinho
90/100
colheita 2014
Wine Advocate
Sexy Cuvée
TINTO
16,5/20
Revista de Vinhos
Sexy Rosé
ESPUMANTE BRUT
Grande Medaille d´Or
2017, Concours Mondial Bruxelles
Sexy Tinto
TINTO