Widely regarded as one of the most dynamic young winemakers in Portugal, António Maçanita crafts wines from the Azores archipelago to Alentejo, and now to Porto Santo, a small island off Madeira. He excels at capturing the essence of the regional terroir and traditions.

This latest project was created with his friend of 15 years, Nuno Faria, a Madeiran and restaurateur. The adventuresome duo have joined forces to explore the potential of these magical islands. The island of Porto Santo emerged 14 million years ago in the Atlantic Ocean, being geologically one of the oldest islands in the Portuguese archipelagos. It was also the first to be discovered by Zarco in 1418. The ancients say that it was from here that the ripest grapes were harvested. Today there are less than 14 hectares left, farmed by a group of locals. The people of Porto Santo are known as the “Prophets”, an ancient nickname that makes sense when you see these old vineyards planted by the sea, close to the ground, protected from the ocean and the wind by rock walls (crochet walls) or by cane structures. The 40-80 year old vines are planted in clay-sandy limestones, and processed on Madeira, as wine is not allowed to be made on Porto Santo.