Chef Marlene Vieira Honored With The Dona Antónia Award 2025
Inspired by the legacy of courage, generosity, and vision of Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, the Dona Antónia Awards return for their 37th edition, once again celebrating exceptional Portuguese women. This year, Marlene Vieira joins the portfolio of “Mulheres Ferreirinha” (Ferreirinha Women) with the Revelation Award.
Created in 1988 by Dona Antónia’s descendants and Sogrape, these awards have honored women who, like the legendary “Ferreirinha,” are examples of determination and entrepreneurship and who contribute to the country’s economic, social, and cultural development. Since 2014, the initiative has annually recognized women who embody the values and attributes of Dona Antónia’s character.
“The Dona Antónia Awards are much more than recognition. They are a symbol of human and female empowerment, aligned with the 3rd pillar of our Global Sustainability Approach, Seed the Future, which aims to inspire happier and more responsible lives. They are a tribute to women of all times, whose journey and work are rooted in inspiration from the past, the circumstances of the present, and a vision for a better future. These are women who endure through time, with projects that surprise, inspire, and remain forever. Each one, in their own way, represents the boldness to dream and the strength to achieve—values that Dona Antónia left us as a timeless legacy and that Sogrape recalls every year with a deep sense of responsibility”, says Mafalda Guedes, Head of Corporate Communications and Sustainability at Sogrape and 4th generation of the founding family.
Marlene Vieira, a chef who has established herself as one of the most influential voices in Portuguese gastronomy, was honored with the Revelation Award. Balancing tradition and innovation, Marlene has elevated Portuguese cuisine with authenticity, creativity, and resilience, earning a Michelin Star in 2025, creating new paths for the restaurant industry, and inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurial women.
A legacy that continues to inspire: Dona Antónia Awards
With more than three decades of history, the Dona Antónia Awards continue to perpetuate the memory of an iconic figure who marked the history of the Douro and Portugal. Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira (1811–1896), affectionately known as “Ferreirinha,” was much more than a visionary businesswoman: she was an example of courage, altruism, and leadership, investing not only in the development of Port Wine and the Douro region but also in social projects that transformed the lives of many communities.
By honoring women who reflect her values, Sogrape renews its commitment to contributing to a fairer, more inclusive, and more qualified society, aligned with the Global Sustainability Approach, Seed the Future, which aims to empower 100 women per year. Today, the Award is one of the levers for women’s empowerment in Portugal, seeking to create role models that inspire future generations to leave their mark on society.
The award winners are selected by an independent jury, chaired by António Lobo Xavier, which each year identifies women whose lives and work reflect the values of Dona Antónia. The jury includes Raquel Seabra, Ana Pinho, Isabel Furtado, Maria João Spratley and Francisco Olazabal (representing the two branches of Antónia Adelaide Ferreira’s family), Miguel Poiares Maduro, and, this year, Cândida Pinto — who joins the jury as the recipient of the Career Achievement Award in the previous edition.
The story of Chef Marlene Vieira, as well as the list of all women honored throughout the editions, can be found at https://www.antoniaadelaideferreira.com/en/awards-dona-antonia and here: https://youtu.be/nNjxD3IQVpw.
