2021 Azores Wine Company Terrantez do Pico

Wine from the Portuguese Azores means an Atlantic injection. Wine has been made on the Azores, an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean about 1400 kilometers west of Lisbon, since the sixteenth century. But so little that you hardly ever see the wines from the Azores on the European mainland. They make around 20,000 liters per year, which is about the annual harvest in the Azores. It's all white and much of it is fortified with alcohol. The wine is made from typical Portuguese grapes, such as Verdelho and Arinto. What is also unknown, but certainly not unloved by the wine connoisseur, is quality because the Azores have a great climate for wine. The sea breeze ensures healthy vines that do not require chemical intervention. Moisture, sun and a big difference in temperature make the wines of the Azores incredibly beautiful. Without a doubt the most famous and renowned winery of the Azores is Azores Wine Company. They have perhaps one of the most unique terroirs in the world, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, and at the foot of the volcanic mountain Pico, the vineyards are planted in the fractures of the rocks, next to the sea, where you can " singing of the crabs", because there is more sun and warmth there.

This wine consists of 100% Terrantez do Pico, which is a unique and almost extinct variety. Partly due to the tendency to rot quickly and the small bunches, the production of wines of this type is very expensive. Azores wine company, however, chooses to work with this special variety and therefore gives an example of what a beautiful wine can be made with this variety. As soon as it is time to harvest, the grapes are collected in 20 kg bins, after which the manual selection takes place to ensure that only the perfectly ripe grapes end up in the grape press. The aging takes place for 25% in French oak barrels with weekly battonage and for 75% in stainless steel tanks, followed by a few months of aging in the bottle. Only 3172 bottles have been made from the Azores Wine Company Terrantez do Pico.

The Azores Wine Company Terrantez do Pico displays very mineral and fresh notes on the nose with hints of grapefruit, pineapple and a touch of iodine. In the mouth, this wine is full, fresh, exotic and mineral with a salty undertone ending in a very elegant aftertaste. This wine is therefore wonderful with fruits de mer, grilled fish, roasted poultry and grilled pork. Thanks to the acids present, this wine also has a considerable storage potential of +/- 10+ years.