Caves Santa Marta is a cooperative winery in Santa Marta de Penaguião in the Douro. The Adega Cooperativa de Santa Marta de Penaguião, founded in 1959, forms the historical core; the present structure emerged after the integration of the cooperatives of Medrões and Cumieira and the definitive merger in 1987. Around 1,100 members supply grapes from their own vineyards.
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1959 |
| Headquarters | Santa Marta de Penaguião |
| Ownership | Cooperative |
| Region | Douro |
| Port wines | Ruby, Tawny, White, Rosé, Lágrima, LBV, Vintage, 10/20/30/40/50 Years |
| Website | https://cavessantamarta.pt/ |
In 1959 regional growers founded the Adega Cooperativa de Santa Marta de Penaguião. Cooperatives were created in Cumieira and Medrões in 1960. Following merger agreements during the 1970s, the definitive union took place in 1987. Port was exported for the first time in 1986, the first LBV appeared in 1997 and the first Vintage Port in 1998. Further Vintage bottlings followed in 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2004. In 1999 Caves Santa Marta acquired the historic Casa do Douro warehouse Armazém 0022.
Grapes come from members' vineyards around Santa Marta de Penaguião. The producer describes the soils as dominated by schist and clay. Technical sheets show temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless-steel tanks, destemming, skin contact and pumping over. Armazém 0022 also documents the historical link between storage, distillation and Port production.
The range extends from Ruby, Tawny, White, Rosé and Lágrima through LBV and Vintage to Tawnies labelled 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 Years. A 10 Years White Port is also produced. Mature Tawnies show an oxidative profile, while Ruby and Vintage are made in a more fruit-driven style.
As a large growers' cooperative, Caves Santa Marta illustrates how many family farms can vinify and market their grapes collectively. The development of proprietary LBV and Vintage bottlings since the 1990s and the restoration of Armazém 0022 mark the transition from a cooperative cellar to an independent Port producer with historical and tourism dimensions.