Pico Wines

The wine culture of Pico have already been there for generations. Picowines-CVIP is a cooperative that brings together most of the islands winemakers (250 members/ farmers) and is situated in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The Cooperative was founded in 1949. It’s experience in viticulture has nearly 70 years old. The soil of Pico Island is made of basaltic lava which is almost impenetrable, giving special and unique characteristics to our wine.

Another feature is the saline winds from de Atlantic, which burns very often the vines, reducing their development.In order to protect the vines from the saline winds, people built little stone walls ("currais”), looking like a labyrinth. Since 2004, Pico Island is part of the Heritage of UNESCO. This type of viticulture, which has a stunning visual impact, involves a lot of work and dedication. It is said that Frei Pedro Gigante planted the first vines in the island (late XV century). It was the current indigenous varieties such as Azorean Arinto, Verdelho and Pico’s Terrantez, where the little stone walls were already used to provide shelter from the saline winds. Until today, the method of is the same as many years ago.