Our Journey
Our story begins in 2007 with the UK partners’ first attempt at a cachaça pilgrimage, seeking a spirit that they could bring back to Britain, and returning with nothing but great memories.
Later, the wider team returned to Brazil and ultimately discovered the unique character of Rio De Contas – a small town set amongst the hills and valleys on the edge of the majestic Chapada Diamantina – where they met Marcos Vaccaro, a visionary and an expert in all things organic.
Marcos’s organic fazenda (farm) produces exceptional sugar cane, alongside fruit trees, a coffee plantation and has tree-house accommodation for all visitors. The travelers knew they had found both a perfect partner and an ideal location for their distillery. Together, they created Abelha Cachaça, born out of shared principles, values, and vision.
Our Home
Abelha is made with love in the heart of Bahia – a singular place with powerful historic, natural, and cultural heritage.
The distillery is a single estate family operation. Marcos coordinates all production, from cane field to pot still, and he is constantly seeking out ways to improve our organic farming and distillation methods.
At 1,200 metres altitude, the estate is ideal for Cachaça production, as the temperature differential between day and night produces sugar cane that retains its natural sugars.
Our Community Culture
Abelha is committed to supporting our Rio De Contas community. By building partnerships and improving organic farming technologies & techniques, we are boosting the local economy significantly and sustainably.
We teach local farmers organic practices, helping them get certified by the Instituto BioDynamico (Brazil’s Official Organic Association). Once certified, the farmers can supply our distillery with organic sugar cane at a fair price. Find out more about our work with local farmers.
Abelha Cachaça is produced by local craftspeople and workers at the Abelha distillery, including bottling and quality control, and we offer high wages to all of our workers at the Fazenda.
We also support the local Rio De Contas Foundation, and the upkeep of the Chapada Diamantina, so tourists can appreciate the region’s natural beauty for years to come.
OUR TEAM
Marcos Vaccaro
Mestre Alambiqueiro (Master Distiller)
Leide Vaccaro
Queen Bee
Sugar Cane Farmers
Sugar Cane Farmers
Tiao
Alambiqueiro (Distillery Manager)
Herbert Rugel
Hive Coordinator
