Pale, delicate ruby in the glass, this is a wine built on finesse. The nose is beautifully refined, with ripe plum, hints of tobacco and a touch of spice. Medium-bodied and fresh on the palate, it gains depth and elegance as it opens up, finishing on firm, well-defined tannins.
Chão dos Eremitas is a Portuguese term that literally means “the ground of the hermits.” The word “chão” (ground or floor) was also historically used to refer to a flat stretch of land; thus, it can be loosely translated as “the plain of the hermits.” It is a relatively level vineyard—formerly owned by the monks of the Order of Saint Paul (known in Portuguese as “Os Paulistas”)—situated at the southern foot of the Serra d’Ossa. There is evidence that wine has been produced here continuously since the 14th century. Maçanita acquired the vineyard in 2018. Among the wines he produces there are those made from old, nearly forgotten grape varieties such as Tinta Carvalha, Alicante Branco, and Trincadeira das Pratas. What is believed to be the oldest wine cellar in Évora was discovered on the estate, and the property’s archives contain the earliest document from Évora to set out regulations for viticulture and the wine trade. The estate is located 10 km from Évora at Paço do Morgado de Oliveira—a medieval property dating back to 1306 that spans approximately 100 hectares. Maçanita had the old facades carefully uncovered, revealing Gothic pointed-arch doorways and windows that had remained hidden beneath layers of plaster for centuries. In 2017, he built a modern cellar next to the palace, which is entirely clad in cork sourced from the Alentejo region.
Food pairing
Pale, delicate ruby in the glass, this is a wine built on finesse. The nose is beautifully refined, with ripe plum, hints of tobacco and a touch of spice. Medium-bodied and fresh on the palate, it gains depth and elegance as it opens up, finishing on firm, well-defined tannins.
Chão dos Eremitas is a Portuguese term that literally means “the ground of the hermits.” The word “chão” (ground or floor) was also historically used to refer to a flat stretch of land; thus, it can be loosely translated as “the plain of the hermits.” It is a relatively level vineyard—formerly owned by the monks of the Order of Saint Paul (known in Portuguese as “Os Paulistas”)—situated at the southern foot of the Serra d’Ossa. There is evidence that wine has been produced here continuously since the 14th century. Maçanita acquired the vineyard in 2018. Among the wines he produces there are those made from old, nearly forgotten grape varieties such as Tinta Carvalha, Alicante Branco, and Trincadeira das Pratas. What is believed to be the oldest wine cellar in Évora was discovered on the estate, and the property’s archives contain the earliest document from Évora to set out regulations for viticulture and the wine trade. The estate is located 10 km from Évora at Paço do Morgado de Oliveira—a medieval property dating back to 1306 that spans approximately 100 hectares. Maçanita had the old facades carefully uncovered, revealing Gothic pointed-arch doorways and windows that had remained hidden beneath layers of plaster for centuries. In 2017, he built a modern cellar next to the palace, which is entirely clad in cork sourced from the Alentejo region.
Food pairing
A natural partner for roast or grilled poultry such as chicken or guinea fowl, grilled pork – tenderloin or Ibérico secreto – and lamb, whether chops with thyme or a slow-roasted leg. It also shines alongside a hearty Portuguese pork and bean stew, mushroom risotto or other mushroom dishes, a charcuterie board and semi-hard cheeses.
Grapes: 100% Castelão
Castelão is one of the Alentejo’s historic native varieties. Here it comes from roughly 50-year-old vines rooted in the granite and sand of the Chão dos Eremitas plot, harvested by hand during the cool of the night. After careful table sorting, around a third of the bunches are fermented whole, while the rest are destemmed and fed into the vat by gravity. Wild yeasts drive a spontaneous fermentation, followed by 35 days on the skins, before the wine spends 16 months maturing in French oak.
Fitapreta is the Alentejo project of António Maçanita, one of Portugal’s most daring winemakers, based near Évora. Committed to native grapes and dry-farmed vineyards, he uses the Chão dos Eremitas range to give the region’s old varieties a new voice, bottling them by single plot and single variety.
Alcohol content
13%vol
Storage and serving
Serve at 16-18°C
Critics & Awards
4.0/5 Vivino | 66 ratings
93/100 Wine-Searcher | average of 3 critic scores for the 2022 vintage
17.5/20 Grandes Escolhas | Tasted: Aug 2026
From 56-year-old vines on granite and limestone in the southern foothills of the Serra d’Ossa, aged 16 months in barrel. Tart red berries meet cherry jam, with earthy notes and hints of dried scrub. A slightly rustic style with firm, assertive tannins, yet it keeps good texture and overall freshness.
