Azores Wine Company

Jan 21

Founded in 2014, Azores Wine Company has been instrumental in the promotion of Azorean wine and gastronomy, working with local indigenous grapes, and helping preserve the islands' wine history. António Maçanita is widely regarded as one of the most dynamic winemakers in Portugal, crafting wines from the Azores archipelago to Alentejo, and Madeira to the Douro Valley, each one capturing the essence of the regional terroir and traditions.

Antonio was named 2018 Winemaker of the Year in Revista de Vinhos Magazine, as well as awarded the 2018 Singularity Award by Revista Grandes Escolhas. And Azores Wine Company was named Company of the Year at the 2021 Grandes Escolhas Awards. The company's winery, Adega Pico, also won the BigMat National Prize for Architecture in Portugal 2023, and a RIBA International Award for Excellence 2024.

We currently have an exciting lineup of 6 Azores Wine Co wines in stock, and have created a limited edition Mixed Case, allowing you to taste through the portfolio.

Read more about each wine below, along with links to purchase.

Arinto dos Açores 2024

Arinto dos Açores is a unique grape native to the Azores, unrelated to mainland Portugal's Arinto. These vines are planted in the rock cracks at the foothills of the volcanic mountain, almost touching the ocean. The vineyards are protected from the strong salty marine breezes by rock walls known as currais. This was native fermented in horizontal stainless barrels, where it remained on lees for 8 months. Tart lemon, lemongrass, juicy grapefruit, and elderflower run the sleek length of this electric wine, buffered by subtly creamy lees, and finishing with a stony, saline buzz. A beauty marine swept white.

Appellation : DO Pico
Region : Azores
Country : Portugal
Grape(s) : Arinto dos Açores
Price : $64
Case : 6 / case

Arinto dos Açores Sur Lies 3 Colheitas NV

Arinto dos Açores is a unique grape native to the Azores, unrelated to mainland Portugal's Arinto. These vines are planted in the rock cracks at the foothills of the volcanic mountain, almost touching the ocean. The vineyards are protected from the strong salty marine breezes by rock walls known as currais. The 3 Colheitas refers to the second pressings of 3 colhietas (2022, 2023, and 2024), yielding a concentrated and complexed multi vintage wine. Each year was whole bunch pressed and native fermented in 600-1000L horizontal stainless tanks and used French barrels, aging sur lies, without bâtonnage.

Appellation : DO Pico
Region : Azores
Country : Portugal
Grape(s) : Arinto dos Açores
Price : $83
Case : 6 / case

Verdelho O Original 2024

This is Verdelho o Original, aka Verdelho do Pico, indigenous to the Azores and Madeira. This is a different species than the Douro grape often called Verdelho, which is the Portuguese name for Godello. From volcanic basalt soils, and grapes 15 – 35 years old, this was whole bunch pressed, and native fermented and aged in a mix of stainless steel barrels and used oak barrels, with 8 months lees contact. Unmistakably saline and mineral, with crunchy pear, meadow grass, white grapefruit, and fresh, zesty acidity, all rinsed with an alluring salinity that lingers on the finish. True to place.

Appellation : DO Pico
Region : Azores
Country : Portugal
Grape(s) : Verdelho
Price : $66
Case : 6 / case

Isabella a Proibida Rosé NV

The proibida (prohibition) of this wine necessitating the pink line crossing out words here because this is an old vine/vineyard blend of Isabella, a hybrid grape that is not allowed for quality wine in the EU, and certainly looked down upon in the Azores and Portugal. However, winemaker Antonio Maçanita wanted to pay tribute to these old Isabella vines, once in abundance and with 200 years history on this volcanic island, before phylloxera ravaged through. From vineyards close to the sea, protected from the strong salty ocean winds by walls of rock known as currais, the slightly pressed grapes saw 3-6 hours of skin time before a native ferment and short rest in stainless. Watermelon candy, pear blossoms are lifted with rhubarb acidity, sailing this to a sour crunchy plum finish. Salinity is rinsed throughout, leaving this light (11.5%) pink fresh and clean and ready for food pairings (think tapas). This is entirely the 2024 vintage.

Region : Azores
Country : Portugal
Grape(s) : Isabella
Price : $36
Case : 6 / case

Isabella a Proibida NV

The proibida (prohibition) of this wine necessitating the red line crossing out words here because this is an old vine/vineyard blend of Isabella, a hybrid grape that is not allowed for quality wine in the EU, and certainly looked down upon in the Azores and Portugal. However, winemaker Antonio Maçanita wanted to pay tribute to these old isabella vines, once in abundance and with 200 years history on this volcanic island, before phylloxera ravaged through. This was fermented and aged for a short time in stainless. Foxy, green and hybrid herbaceous, this weaves early raspberry, crunchy cherry, mint, and thorns across a brisk, bright palate, lightly framed with sticky tannins through a saline finish. Certainly unique.

Region : Azores
Country : Portugal
Grape(s) : Isabella
Price : $41
Case : 6 / case

Erupção Vulcânica NV

From the 2019 vintage (local laws don’t allow the vintage to be on the label for this rogue wine), this blends Malvarisco, Bastardo, Rufete, Saborinho, Agronómica, Aragonês, Castelão, Touriga Nacional, and others from the volcanic soils of Pico. This was 30% whole cluster, and native fermented for 1 month on skins before aging in a split of stainless and barrels for 30 months. Pouring a pale red, this lighter (11%) red teems with tart raspberry, baked rhubarb, wild strawberry, woven with a line of reduction, and lined with negligible tannins. Mouthwatering from first whiff, this juicy, bright, marine red finishes with a sprinkle of star anise and pink pepper. Quite characterful. 6,666 bottles produced.

Region : Azores
Country : Portugal
Grape(s) : Blend
Price : $58
Case : 6 / case

Most of our producers are small, independently owned and operated businesses, like ours. You can view our complete portfolio here. Thank you for letting us share these producers and wines with you.

Cheers,