2019 Azores Wine Co. Arinto dos Açores, Pico D.O. Açores, Portugal

ABOUT THIS WINE

This wine is made from 100% Arinto dos Açores grapes, a varietal distinct from the mainland's Arinto. This grape has evolved to adapt to the extreme growing conditions of Pico Island. The sustainably grown vines, planted between 1984 and 2004, contribute to the wine's unique character. Grown on volcanic basalt at sea level, the vines are planted just 100 feet from the Atlantic Ocean, making the wine's salinity and minerality genuinely remarkable.

The grapes are hand-harvested and undergo a rigorous selection process before being a whole bunch pressed. The juice is decanted for 24 hours and fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. The wine ages for 10 months on the lees in horizontal tanks, allowing for increased surface area contact. The wine undergoes full malolactic fermentation, producing a refined and complex flavor profile.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

The story of this exceptional wine begins with António, who co-founded FitaPreta Vinhos in sunny Alentejo before embarking on the adventure of the Azores Wine Company. His connection to the Azores runs deep, as his father's homeland and his many childhood trips to the islands inspired him to take on the challenge of reviving the indigenous Terrantez do Pico varietal with his two partners.

Arinto dos Açores is a grape variety indigenous to the Azores that shares the acidity and potential for longevity of the mainland variety that shares its name. However, the two are not related. The grape variety's characteristics, coupled with Pico’s unique terroir, impart incredible minerality, purity and unmistakable salinity to the wine.

The Portuguese archipelago of the Azores is home to a winemaking tradition that dates back to its colonization in the 15th century, wherein Franciscan friars introduced viticulture. This group of islands is home to a singular terroir and microclimate, which draws a close comparison to the island of Santorini. Like Santorini, the Azores are volcanic islands comprised entirely of black basalt. Pico, the main wine-producing island where these vineyards are located, has such poor soil that the vineyard needs to be supplemented with soil from neighboring islands to support vine growth, and even with that, the yields are a fraction of what they are in the rest of the DOC. Additionally, the vineyards are grown in tiny plots (2-6 bush-trained vines per square) protected on all sides by small walls called “currais” to ward off the strong winds that blow in from the North Atlantic, mere steps from the vineyards. At its peak, Pico was home to over 6,000 ha of vineyards. These are still there today but are mainly grown over by forests – only a handful of small family-owned vineyards remain outside the production of 3 leading producers. Azores Wine Company is the clear leader at 116 hA of recovered vines.