Intensely sweet and well structured with strawberry and caramelised sugar sweetness.
Chacara São Judas Tadeu lies outside the small town of Piatã, in Bahia’s Chapada Diamantina region, at an elevation of 1,300 to 1,380 metres above sea level. Chapada Diamantina translates to ”Diamond Plateau” in Portuguese, and for 100 years this area was mined for the gemstones embedded in its cliffs. Today, the region is famous for its specialty coffee.
The farm is owned by Antônio Rigno and his wife Terezinha, who have been farming coffee in the region for more than 40 years. Antônio and his family own a number of farms in Piatã and are extremely well-respected members of the community. Antônio’s coffees have been recognised in Bahia’s state-sponsored Coffee Quality Competition countless times, including consecutive 1st place awards in the first 3 years the competition ran (2004 – 2007). He has also achieved Cup of Excellence awards several times, including 2nd place in 2014 and first place 2015.
Chacara São Judas extends across some 80 hectares — with 15 hectares under coffee —making it one of the largest estates in Piatã. The farm is mainly planted with Yellow and Red Catuaí varieties, although Antônio has also planted Bourbon trees after trialling them successfully in recent years. The estate’s pruning program is vital in ensuring trees remain healthy and full of energy. The program involves pruning trees on a two-to-three-year cycle, depending on the weather and the current health of the estate. By pruning up to 50% of his crop at a time, Antonio ensures each tree receives plentiful nutrients and moisture from the soil, even during periods of drought (as occurred in the 2024 harvest).
A focus on sustainable farming is critical to São Judas’ success. At the farm, Antônio keeps the use of chemical pesticides to a minimum and recycles coffee pulp to use as fertiliser. He has also planted numerous large shade trees around the farm, which prevent erosion and protect coffee trees from the sun. The estate’s irrigation system draws mineral-rich water from a well that Antônio established with a special license, and water usage is carefully monitored. In 2022, the Rignos also installed solar panels, which help to reduce ongoing operation costs. Additionally, most of the property is covered by natural forest, which Antônio both protects and extends by regularly planting new trees. To make the most of this land, the Rignos keep 100 cows for dairy production, and are in the process of establishing a sugarcane factory to produce molasses and rapadura sugar bricks.
Besides being extremely knowledgeable and experienced, Antônio and Terezinha are always warm and welcoming, adding to their influence in Piatã’s community. They regularly bring coffee producers together at the local clubhouse and run a small café in town, where their Cup of Excellence awards line the walls to showcase the region’s potential. Over the years, the pair have worked tirelessly to produce great coffees and have helped many neighbours to do the same by providing advice and mentorship, along with practical methods to improve agricultural methods and produce higher quality in the final cup. The Rignos also graciously let many local farmers process their coffee at the wet mill located at São Judas Tadeu.
Sharing his expertise gives Antônio a great sense of purpose and pride.
“There are no secrets” he explains to us. “Here, the people in Piatã are like my family. I want to help them produce great coffee. It’s my duty and my joy”.
