Style

A powerful and precise volcanic white, combining concentration with intense salinity and minerality. Structured and complex, with a long aging potential.

Vineyard

Located on Pico Island (Azores), sourced from old vines planted in volcanic rock close to the Atlantic Ocean. Extreme maritime conditions and basalt soils naturally limit yields, producing highly concentrated grapes with pronounced salinity and freshness.

Winery

Hand-harvested grapes, whole-bunch pressed and fermented with native yeasts. Vinified in a combination of stainless steel and used French oak, followed by extended lees aging to enhance texture and complexity.

Production

~1,700 bottles.

Nose/Palate

Lime, citrus, floral notes, iodine, and sea breeze aromas lead to a medium to full-bodied palate with vibrant acidity, dense saline structure, citrus and mineral flavors, textured mouthfeel, and a long, precise, persistent finish.

Pico Island is one of the most distinctive wine regions of the Azores, shaped by its volcanic soils, Atlantic climate and dramatic coastal landscape. Located in the middle of the North Atlantic, the island is dominated by Mount Pico, Portugal’s highest mountain, whose volcanic geology defines much of the local viticultural character.

Pico’s vineyards are planted in dark basaltic soils, often in small plots protected from the strong Atlantic winds by traditional dry-stone walls known as currais. These enclosed vineyard parcels create a unique landscape and help protect the vines while allowing them to benefit from the island’s abundant sunlight and maritime freshness.

The cool, ocean-influenced climate gives Pico wines naturally high acidity, saline minerality and remarkable freshness. White wines are particularly expressive, often showing citrus, green apple, floral notes and a distinctive smoky or stony character, while rosé and red wines can combine bright fruit with the island’s characteristic saline tension.

The combination of volcanic rock, ocean winds and extreme vineyard conditions creates wines with a strong sense of place. Rather than relying on richness, Pico’s wines are defined by energy, precision and a distinctly Atlantic character.

Pico has a remarkable winemaking heritage, and its historic vineyard landscape has been recognised for its cultural importance. The traditional currais and centuries-old vineyard practices remain central to the island’s identity.

Pico Island produces wines unlike almost anywhere else — volcanic, saline and intensely Atlantic, combining bright fruit and vibrant acidity with a distinctive sense of volcanic terroir.

Canada do Monte stands out for its cooler microclimate and stronger Atlantic Ocean influence than the winery’s other vineyards. As a result, the wines are lighter, fresher, more mineral and more saline, with pronounced acidity and a long, dry finish.

The winery’s other wines are often fruitier and fuller, while Canada do Monte places greater emphasis on the character of volcanic stone, wind and sea.

It is one of the winery’s freshest, most precise and most distinctly Atlantic terroirs.

Arinto dos Açores is a rare white grape variety native to the Azores archipelago, particularly associated with the islands of Pico and Terceira. It is well adapted to the cool, windy Atlantic climate and volcanic soils.

The variety is most widely planted on Pico Island, where it is cultivated in traditional vineyards protected by basalt-stone walls. It is also important on Terceira, while smaller quantities are grown on other Azorean islands.

Arinto dos Açores wines are characterised by very fresh acidity, lemon, green apple, citrus blossom and subtle herbal notes. The volcanic soils and Atlantic climate give the wines a pronounced stony minerality and saline character. On the palate, they are typically light, taut, dry and intensely refreshing.

In style, Arinto dos Açores can resemble several international varieties:

Albariño – for its Atlantic freshness, citrus aromas, minerality and saline finish;
Riesling – for its high acidity, lemon and green-fruit notes and taut structure;
clearly;
Assyrtiko – for its volcanic character, vibrant acidity and distinctive salinity.

Nevertheless, Arinto dos Açores has a profile of its own: it is generally more Atlantic, volcanic and saline than most comparable international varieties.

Arinto dos Açores is a rare Azorean grape variety, born of a volcanic Atlantic archipelago and particularly expressive of the terroirs of Pico and Terceira: fresh, mineral, saline and exceptionally precise.

The 2023 Arinto dos Açores shows the variety’s distinctive Atlantic freshness and volcanic minerality. Lemon, green apple and citrus blossom lead into a dry, vibrant palate with pronounced acidity and a clean, saline finish.

Compared with the last few vintages, 2023 is particularly precise and energetic, with pronounced acidity, clear aromatics and a distinctly saline finish. It offers less emphasis on richness and greater focus on freshness and terroir expression.

A precise and refreshing expression of Azorean Arinto, shaped by volcanic soils and the cool Atlantic climate.