In the quiet village of Farminhão, nestled between Viseu and Tondela, Charlotte Hugel and Paul Chevreux are bringing new life to Dão's winemaking heritage. Charlotte, a 13th-generation member of Alsace's renowned Hugel family, and Paul, a winemaker from the Jura who trained and worked in the renowned Beaune, Burgundy, combine deep European roots with a shared love for Portugal's terroir.
Their project, Vizinho Vinhateiro, began in 2021 at Quinta da Roda da Quintã—a historic manor with a treasured vineyard planted in 1931. The name pays tribute to the local tradition of homegrown winemaking, where many neighbors still produce wine for personal use. Inspired by these "vinhateiros," Charlotte and Paul farm organically, relying on traditional tools, animal traction, and biodynamic principles. The wines are made with minimal intervention: no filtration, no fining, and only minimal sulfur added.
Their approach is both humble and ambitious. From a red and a palhete (rosé) in their first vintage, they're expanding into whites and reviving historic Dão styles like clarete. Their wines are terroir-driven, fresh, and age-worthy—echoing the cool-climate elegance of Alsace and Burgundy while celebrating the distinct character of Dão.
For Charlotte and Paul, this is more than a winemaking project. It's a way to preserve the region's rich viticultural traditions while bringing in the experience of two deeply rooted European wine cultures. Quietly and patiently, they are building one of the most thoughtful new voices in Dão.
