Adega Cooperativa de Cantanhede, founded in 1954, is one of the most reputed wine-producing companies of Portugal, located in the demarcated wine-growing region of Bairrada, in the city of Cantanhede.
With about 500 active associated wine-growers and harvesting about 6-8 million kilos of grapes per year, this firm is the biggest producer of its region (representing around 40% of the total production) and certifies about 80% of its production with with the BAIRRADA DOC and BEIRA ATLÂNTICO IGP designations. For the last seven years, it has been the market leader concerning sales of wines and sparkling wines with those classifications.
Recognising the challenging competitiveness existing in the international wine market, the qualitative evolution of its wines is the result of the most modern technology, focused on food safety and the improvement and development of Portuguese grapes, in particular the ones with tradition in Bairrada region, such as Baga, Bical and Maria-Gomes, but also Touriga-Nacional, Aragonez and Arinto, among others. That's why its wines, are not only one wine more, but an added value product which is based on unique and surprising flavours and aromas.
The portfolio includes a wide range of products (red, white, rosé still and sparkling wines, wine spirits and fortified wines), which, thanks to its diversity, is able to meet the different market segments, with different demanding grades in quality. Its demanding, serious and flexible position in the market has determined its national and international development, which results in the presence of its products in approximately 20 different countries.
The quality of its wines has been frequently confirmed and recognized in Portugal and abroad, in the most important and prestigious international wine competitions, which result in more than 750 awards and accolades to its portfolio, in several wine competitions such as IWSC London, Mundus Vini – Germany, Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, Selections Mondiales des Vins - Canada, Effervescents du Monde - France and Berliner Wein Trophy – Germany. Not infrequently it has been the only winery from Bairrada with awarded wines in those contests.
In 2015 the winery was ranked among the TOP 100 Wineries of the World, according to the World Association of Writers and Journalists of Wine and Spirits.
In the last 8 years the winery was awarded 3 times as “Best Wine Cooperative” in Portugal:
February 2012 - “Best Wine Cooperative of the Year 2011” by the wine magazine “Revista de Vinhos”.
January 2017 - “Best Wine Cooperative” in the Special Awards Ceremony of the 10th Anniversary of the wine magazine “Paixão pelo Vinho"
February 2020 - “Best Wine Cooperative of the Year 2019” by the wine magazine “Vinho – Grandes Escolhas”
In 2014 it has also been awarded as "Sparkling Wine Producer 2013" by the most recognized wine writer in Portugal - Aníbal Coutinho.
Osvaldo Amado is its Chief Winemaker since 2011. His career began in 1987, and nowadays he accumulates a huge professional experience in the most emblematic wine growing regions in Portugal, such as Bairrada, Dão, Douro, Verdes, Tejo and Lisboa, but also abroad, in Spain, Italy, South Africa and Brasil, with more than 600 million bottles of wine produced, 6 times awarded as Best Winemaker and more than 1100 gold and silver medals to his wines in national and international contests.