Vida Vinha, a new microboutique wine producer in Tavira in east Algarve, will release its first high-end wines this May, in extremely limited quantities.
Focusing on native grapes and the unique terroir of Fonte Salgada, these small-batch wines promise elegance, authenticity, and a true taste of the Algarve.
About Vida Vinha
Vida Vinha is a family-run boutique producer established by a Danish family - Tanya, René, Elliott and Simon - in the heart of Eastern Algarve. Driven by a deep desire to unite life and wine, we settled in Tavira to create something truly unique: wines in extremely small quantities, where each bottle tells its own story.
Our mission is simple: to produce high-end wines with respect for tradition, innovation, and terroir.
Tanya Vinding Connolly says:
“We are incredibly excited to release our first vintage. There have been many challenges along the way, and we hope people will receive the wines warmly.”
René Connolly Vinding adds:
“It is important for us to preserve the authenticity of the grapes and the unique character of the terroir – every bottle should reflect the place, the year, and our passion.”
Terroir and grapes
Our vineyards are located on the Fonte Salgada hills – “Fonte Salgada” means salt spring – with mineral-rich soils, sunny exposures, and cool northern breezes. This combination provides ideal conditions for small-scale wine production, where quality is valued over quantity.
The grapes are carefully chosen based on Tavira’s warmer climate compared to the rest of the Algarve, the soil composition, and climate change considerations.
The primary grapes at Vida Vinha are Arinto, Sémillon, Negra Mole, and Tinta Miúda. Sémillon is the only non-Portuguese grape and was chosen for its flexibility, allowing both fresh, crisp white wines and rich dessert wines. Sémillon also has a long history in Portugal, including in Port wine vineyards, where it was recently DNA-verified.
Additionally, small quantities of Sercial, Antão Vaz, Tinta Caiada, and Tinta Grossa are used to add complexity and balance to our blends. 
The Wines and Release
Our wines are, of course, hand-harvested. In the cellar, we work with a low-intervention philosophy, where the focus is on letting the grapes and terroir speak for themselves.
Only minimum of sulfites is added, and we use gentle filtration to preserve as much character and purity as possible in the wines.
‘“We love to experiment in the cellar while also honoring local tradition. For our future vintage, we are working with a small amphora egg to embrace both innovation and the heritage of the region,” says René Connolly Vinding.
The first wines, the Vida Vinha 2024 vintage, will be released in spring 2026 and are produced in very small quantities. One white. One red. Approximately 1,500 bottles of each.
Crafted with patience and intention. A small beginning — rooted in place.
We invite wine enthusiasts to follow our journey on Instagram and Facebook, where we will share stories from the vineyard, production, and the wine launch.
Please follow and be the first to receive an invite for the launch of the first wines.
