Dona Fátima is the only white wine in the world made exclusively from the Jampal variety, the result of the stubbornness and perseverance of André Mance, a Brazilian who fell in love with Cheleiros and founded the winery. Mantsvin. Signed by winemaker Ricardo Noronha, this wine from the Lisbon region captures the spirit of Manzvin like no other and puts the small historic town of Cheleiros on the map.

Last Wednesday, we went to the once important, now small village of Cheleiros to discover Manzwine’s Jampal and Dona Fatima.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by “Manz”, Jampala 100% sparkling wine, unique in the world, made only from this local variety. It is developed using the classical method, which gives it a good structure. This is a medium-bodied, dry and refreshing sparkling wine with a delicate development. Acidity in the right proportion, recommending its use at the table.

After visiting the winery, we took part in the vertical tasting of the Dona Fatima 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 vintages. During the tasting, different wines were identified, but the same in their originality and elegance.

Of all the tasting vintages, we allow ourselves to single out two, Dona Fátima 2016 and Dona Fátima 2021.

Dona Fátima 2016 is an elegant, delicate and exciting wine. Its silky body and freshness stand out in the mouth. A fruity wine in the right proportion, which is in an excellent phase to enjoy.

Dona Fátima 2021, now on the market, is a citrus-lemon color wine, aromatic, floral and enriched with the complexity obtained from barrel aging. With body and persistent acidity, it is fresh, persistent and enveloping. We would even say that with the expected evolution over time, it will become a worthy “successor” to Dona Fátima 2016.

The story of André Manz, Cheleiros and Manzwein

Brazilian by origin, he came to Portugal as a football club goalkeeper. He fell in love, married the Portuguese Margarida, and has two children.

In 2004, André buys the Espiritu Santo garden, where he settles with his family. “It was love at first sight! It was close to everything, 30 minutes from Lisbon, 10 minutes from the center of Mafra, very close to Ericeira and surfing, one of my passions,” says Andrew.

He created Manzwine, symbolizing the return of Cheleiros to a time when the village was famous for the quality of its vineyards planted on the slopes and terraces of this unique microclimate nestled between the gentle protection of the Cheleiros stream and the influence of the sea.

Jampal is the name of about 200 white vines discovered by winemakers in a garden full of Kastelan, about which the locals knew little, even with difficulty pronouncing the name: Jampali, João Paulo or Jampal. But they knew one thing! it was “a very good, sweet, very strong grape, the best we have in white.”

Muntz was eager to learn more. With the help of Airas Dias, one of Portugal’s leading ampelographers, he learned that it was a rare variety, “the last strain of an autochthonous variety.” Fragile, unprofitable and almost extinct grape variety. This is a variety that in some years gives a good harvest, in others not so much. If cut with a bead, then trimming with a stick is required, which is longer, but therefore more expensive. It can almost be assumed that its decline was due to poor profitability. But, as André Manz points out, “I don’t want to make a lot of wine, I want to make good wine.”

The only wine in the world made 100% from the Jampal variety, due to the huge wine quality of this house, it could be just fantastic. Oiliness and good body, in harmony with firm acidity, in a fresh, aromatic, persistent and enveloping combination.

Since then, sommeliers and wine critics from all over the world have praised the elegance, character, honesty of the terroir, the quality of Dona Fátima 100% Jampal and the courage of ManzWine for investing in the restoration of a Portuguese wine heritage that was on the verge of extinction.

Depending on the vintage, production can vary from 5,000 to 9,000 bottles, which are carefully distributed across the 26 countries in which it is sold, almost always in the best restaurants and cellars, for customers who love unique and differentiated wines.

Thus, the connection with Cheleiros is the point of departure and arrival. The presence of Manzwine in the historic center of the city is inevitable, not only because the winery is located here, but also as a result of the great commitment to the restoration of local heritage. The restoration of several buildings, including the old elementary school, is visible and inviting to visit. In this area, the highlight is the museum center, where an ancient mechanical mill takes us on a journey through time, where wine was king and master.

And it is thanks to the white Jampal variety and the stubbornness of its producer André Manz that Cheleiros is back in the mouths of wine lovers with its Dona Fatima, the jewel in the crown of the Manzwine project.

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