Lucianao Cigars and Empress Madeirense de Tabacos SA (EMT) have teamed up to create Constella Group, an international alliance grounded in shared values, strategic alignment, and long-term vision.
Constella Group is designed as a new platform that brings together premium cigar manufacturing, distribution, regulatory compliance, and tobacco trade across continents. EMT brings 142 years of legacy in European production, established warehousing, and robust compliance infrastructure, including Track & Trace systems. To this partnership, Luciano Cigars brings U.S. market distribution, artisanal blending, manufacturing, farming expertise, and a culture of innovation rooted in craftsmanship.
In a press release, Luciano Meirelles, president of Luciano Cigars and co-founder of Constellation, stated, “Our vision for Constella was never simply becoming larger. We set out to create something meaningful–build on mutual respect and the belief that growth should enhance identity, not dilute it. This is about preserving our core values and shaping the future of premium cigars through collaboration and authenticity.”
José Pedro Trindade, EMT Board Representative and co-founder of Constella added: “Constella represents unity through shared purpose. Each partner maintains its unique identity and legacy, contributing strength to a collective vision. It’s a dynamic structure founded on connection, synergy, and respect for tradition.”
As part of this new partnership, Luciano brands will continue to operate under Constella. With this new partnership, Luciano will be able to introduce an expanded family of premium cigar brands in addition to continuing to produce the Luciano core line cigars. Luciano will also maintain its distribution agreements with Peter James Cigars and Dalay.
Constella will continue its manufacturing and tobacco processing operations with R&R and Luciano Tabacos SA in Nicaragua. Strategic expansion initiatives include a new factory and packing infrastructure in Santiago, Dominican Republic (Free Trade Zone). There are also expansion plans for Fàbrica de Tabacos Estrela in São Miguel, Azores (Portugal).
Luciano Cigars and EMT have worked together since 2023 to refresh the 142-year-old Fàbrica de Tabacos Estrela while also developing a tobacco cultivation project in the Azores, a region with over 500 years of tobacco history. Constella is also pioneering new cultivation initiatives in Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and the Azores, a move that positions it to become a leader in the development of unique, globally distinctive tobaccos.
“The renowned seeds such as Habano, Habano Criollo, and Corojo are not native Cuban tobaccos—they’re the product of selective breeding from seeds brought by Spanish colonizers from earlier expeditions,” explains Duarte Manuel Freitas, Constella consultant and historian at the University of Coimbra. “The Azores, positioned at the heart of transatlantic trade, likely served as the first true tobacco laboratory—where ancient seeds from Asia, Australia, and the Americas were cross-pollinated before shaping the foundation of commercial tobacco.”
To celebrate this new partnership, Constella will launch Élevé, a limited edition 6 x 54 Sublime cigar, at this year’s Premium Cigar Association (PCA) trade show in New Orleans. This cigar was blended with carefully selected tobacco from multiple undisclosed regions.
“Élevé symbolizes the encounter of great traditions and creativity,” comments Renato Berardo, President of the EMT board and the Bacalhôa Group, one of the largest wine producers in the world. “Centuries ago, the Azores helped shape global tobacco culture. Today, through Constella, we’re not merely preserving that legacy—we are actively creating its future.”
Luciano will exhibit at the PCA25 trade show in New Orleans, April 11-14, 2025.