Azores Wine Company
The pioneering Pico estate of winemakers António Maçanita and Filipe Cardoso, reviving serious winemaking on the volcanic island with taut, mineral whites from Arinto and Verdelho grown in the UNESCO basalt vineyards.
The producer leading the Azores wine revival, on Pico's volcanic basalt vineyards.
For the producer leading the Azores wine revival, on Pico's volcanic basalt vineyards.
What's in the glass
The wines are strikingly crystalline, characterized by a razor-sharp precision and a heavy influence of sea spray and basaltic minerality. They possess a tension and vibrancy that makes them some of the most distinctive white wines currently produced in Europe.
How it came to be
Founded by a trio of winemakers with a vision to rescue the native grape varieties from the brink of obscurity, this estate has become the vanguard of the Azorean renaissance. By acquiring and restoring abandoned parcels within the UNESCO basalt pens, the estate has successfully bridged the gap between historical preservation and modern commercial excellence. It stands today as the primary engine for the region's international reputation.
Best for, and who should skip
Connoisseurs looking to experience the absolute pinnacle of current Azorean winemaking innovation.
Less ideal for: Travelers seeking a traditional, sprawling vineyard landscape with rolling vines, as the site features highly specialized, low-lying UNESCO-protected basalt walled plots that prioritize soil protection over visual grandeur.
Skip if: Those who prefer large-scale production facilities with massive barrel halls may find the boutique, experimental scale of this operation understated.
Tours, tastings & getting there
The winery features a striking, modern facility that integrates seamlessly into the surrounding black lava landscape. Guests are invited to book formal tasting flights that highlight the nuances between different vineyard plots and varietals, often paired with local cheeses.
Getting there: Fly or ferry to Pico; base in Madalena.
Getting around: The site is compact, allowing visitors to walk from the reception area directly into the adjacent lava-walled vineyard trails.
Secure a reservation through their online portal well ahead of your travel dates, especially if visiting during the summer months.
When to go
May–September.
Year-round.
Allow: Half a day
Beyond the tasting room
Book a tasting at the modern winery near Madalena; walk the basalt vineyard coast.
Pair with
Bolo Lêvedo dos Fenais
A soft, sweet round bread, split and toasted — the Azores' everyday bread and breakfast.
Cozido das Furnas
A meat-and-vegetable stew cooked underground by volcanic steam — the Azores' most theatrical dish.
Cracas
Barnacles picked from the rocks and eaten raw or briefly cooked — the Azores' most hardcore seafood snack.
Other wines to explore
Azores
A volcanic archipelago wine region across nine islands, defined by the UNESCO basalt-pen vineyards of Pico, where Arinto, Verdelho and Terrantez make taut, mineral wines from some of the most extreme terroir on earth.
Biscoitos Vineyards
A small, traditional wine region on the north coast of Terceira island — the Biscoitos currais, basalt-pen vineyards growing Verdelho for the island's distinctive whites and reds; a tiny cooperative keeps the tradition alive.
Pico Vineyards (Currais)
A UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape — a strip of vineyard on Pico's lava-rock coast, where vines are grown in tiny walled basalt pens (currais) that protect them from wind and salt. A landscape to visit, not just taste.
Nearby
Azores
Nine volcanic islands in the mid-Atlantic — calderas, crater lakes, whales, hot springs, and green so green it has its own color ('azul').
Pico
The mountain island — Portugal's highest peak, vineyards grown in black lava, and a wild, black-rock coast. The Azores for the adventurous.
Where it sits
