Fitapreta
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Country of Origin: Portugal
Location: Évora, Alto Alentejo
People: António Maçanita, Owner & Winemaker
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Fitapreta is the vision of acclaimed Portuguese winemaker António Maçanita and the late British-born viticulturist David Booth, whose shared ambition was to redefine the potential of Portugal's Alentejo region through a deeper exploration of terroir. After gaining experience in Napa Valley, Australia, and Bordeaux, including at Château Lynch-Bages, Maçanita returned to Portugal in 2004 to launch Fitapreta alongside Booth, an influential viticulturist who had already established himself as one of Portugal's foremost vineyard consultants.
Together, Maçanita's spirit of innovation and Booth's profound understanding of vineyards established Fitapreta as one of Alentejo's most respected modern producers. Their wines demonstrate that this historic region can produce bottles of remarkable freshness, precision, and authenticity.
From the beginning, Fitapreta has embraced a philosophy of minimal intervention and complete trust in the vineyard. Farming and winemaking are guided by observation rather than formula, allowing each site to express its individuality. Fruit from small vineyard parcels is vinified separately, fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts, and later blended to create wines that capture the complexity and character of Alentejo. The winery operates entirely by gravity, avoiding unnecessary handling of the grapes and preserving purity throughout the winemaking process.
A Historic Home in Alentejo: Fitapreta is based just 6 miles north of Évora at Paço do Morgado de Oliveira, a remarkable medieval estate founded in 1306 by D. Martim de Oliveira, Archbishop of Braga. The nearly 100-hectare property combines centuries of history with modern winemaking.
In 2016, António Maçanita acquired part of the estate to serve as Fitapreta's permanent home. The restored 14th-century palace houses white wine production and barrel aging, while an eco-efficient winery clad in locally sourced cork was completed in 2017 across the courtyard for red wine vinification. Restoration of the estate has been carried out with careful archaeological oversight, resulting in the discovery of what is believed to be Évora's oldest historic wine cellar, further reinforcing the property's deep connection to Portugal's winemaking heritage.
About António Maçanita: António Maçanita is widely regarded as one of Portugal's most innovative and influential winemakers. His wines consistently receive acclaim from leading critics and international competitions, while his consulting company, Wine ID, advises more than a dozen wineries throughout Portugal. Known for his curiosity and willingness to challenge convention, Maçanita has developed pioneering projects in overlooked regions and helped revive forgotten indigenous grape varieties, transforming them into some of Portugal's most exciting wines.
Born in 1979, Maçanita's connection to wine began almost as soon as he could walk, spending harvests playing in vineyards, tasting fresh grape juice, and stomping grapes at his cousin's winery. Although he originally planned to study marine biology, a registration mistake led him into Agro-Industrial Engineering, where he discovered winemaking. What began as an accident quickly became a passion.
While completing his studies, Maçanita gained valuable international experience through harvests at Merryvale Vineyards and Rudd Estate in Napa Valley, d'Arenberg in Australia, and Château Lynch-Bages in Bordeaux. Returning to Portugal at just 24 years old, he co-founded Fitapreta with David Booth. The project quickly earned critical recognition, and by the age of 25 Maçanita was already consulting for multiple wineries across Portugal.
About David Booth: David Booth's journey to viticulture was anything but conventional. After serving seven years as an officer in the British Army, rising to the rank of Captain in the Green Jackets, he studied Agriculture and Management at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester. His career then took him to Mozambique for mine-clearing operations and Kenya for wildlife conservation before he discovered his true calling in wine.
Booth went on to study viticulture at the University of California, Davis, and became a protégé of renowned viticulturist Richard Smart while working in Portugal. He advised many of the country's leading estates, including Lyma Mayer, Terras de Alter, Azamor, Vida Nova, and Arrepiado Velho. In 2004, he partnered with António Maçanita to found Fitapreta, a project that became the defining work of his career. Booth passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack in 2012 at the age of 47, but his vision and influence continue to shape Fitapreta's vineyards and philosophy today.