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XXVI Talhas
Adega do Mestre Daniel, or so it was called. This is a place steeped in history and tradition. At that time, Daniel António Tabaquinho dos Santos (1923-1985) carrying forward a legacy of Talha winemaking passed down through generations, meticulously produced Talha wines in this very same cellar nestled in the heart of Vila Alva in Alentejo. He was known affectionately as Mestre Daniel—"Mestre" referring to his profession as a carpenter. Though his son briefly kept the tradition alive, production ceased in the 1990s, leaving the cellar silent for over two decades.
When Mestre Daniel’s grandson, Daniel Parreira, and his sister decided to restore the Adega in the early 2000’s, they initially envisioned it as a museum dedicated to the area’s winemaking tradition. At that time, ranging in size from 300-1200 litres, 26 Talhas lined the walls of the cellar. This later inspired the name “XXVI.”
However, something essential was missing. Without the vibrant sounds and aromas of fermenting wines, the memories of their grandfather, father, and uncle crafting wine felt incomplete. That’s when Ricardo Santos, a childhood friend of Daniel Parreira and whose father worked for Mestre Daniel, proposed a bold idea: to revive winemaking at the Adega. This, in turn, would be the greatest tribute to Mestre Daniel.
Despite facing significant legal and bureaucratic challenges, Daniel and Ricardo succeeded in bringing the Adega back to life, producing their first vintage in 2018.
By then, the winemaking landscape of Vila Alva had dramatically changed. Of the 72 cellars that thrived in the 1950s, only eight remained active, and of the 1,046 Talhas that once graced the village—outnumbering its 800 residents—just 200 survived.
While the glory days of Talha winemaking may never fully return, the revival of Adega Mestre Daniel has drawn a line in the sand: the millennial tradition of Talha winemaking will endure for future generations.