There’s no better way to understand and experience Pico’s wine production than by starting with a visit to Lajido de Santa Luzia. In this iconic area of the island, we begin with a visit to the Pico Island Vineyard Culture Landscape Interpretation Center, an exhibition space housed in an old winery located right in the center of a cluster of small black houses that retain their traditional layout. The visit will provide visitors with context regarding the history and production of wine on the island.
We then immerse ourselves in the Lajido Wine-Growing Landscape, where, in addition to the landscape marked by miles of basalt stone walls—built to protect the vineyards from sea mist—we will find various traces associated with the artisanal production of this very special wine.
By the sea, we can also find an old tide well, built in an area where this type of structure was particularly necessary, providing the local population with access to drinking water, given the lack of fountains, springs, or streams in the vicinity.
We continue along the coast, following the walking trail of the “rilheiras”—curious lines etched into the lava flow—which bear witness to the passage, in the past, of countless oxcarts carrying heavy loads, including barrels of wine.
While in Lajido, a must-see is the old Forno dos Frades, a building now in ruins, but whose grandeur attests to the importance it once held in the production of brandy, another product of the region’s wine-growing culture
In the afternoon, we suggest one of the following activities:
• Visit to Azores Wine Company, founded in 2014 by partners António Maçanita, Filipe Rocha, and Insula Vinus, Lda., including a tour of the winery to observe the current production process of the famous Pico wine, and a special tasting session featuring local products, in a combination of flavors that promises to surprise everyone.
• Visit to Adega A Buraca, in the parish of Santo António, the perfect place to relive the history of the people of Pico, with a special focus on the golden age of Verdelho. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about the customs and traditions of the Picarotos, admire and purchase local handicrafts, and sample regional wines and delicacies.
• Wine tasting at Adega Czar Winery, led by winemaker Fortunato Garcia, who will help us understand the connection between Pico wine and the Russian tsars during a tasting of unique wines at the winery where they are produced.
