2019 Azores Wine Company Vulcânico Tinto

Wine from the Portuguese Azores means an Atlantic Ocean injection. In the Azores, a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean about 1,400 kilometers west of Lisbon, wine has been made since the sixteenth century. But so little that you almost never 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 a lot 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 grape 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 Volcanic Series are wines expressing the rugged volcanic terroir of the Azores. The tinto Vulcânico from this series is a blend of Aragonês, Agronómica, Castelão, Malvarisco, Merlot, Touriga Nacional,
Saborinho and Syrah. The grapes for this wine are harvested entirely by hand and transported in baskets of up to 40kg to the sorting table where only the ripe grapes go through the selection process and the pressing begins. The aging takes place for 6 months in small stainless steel tanks from 600 to 1000L followed by a few more months aging in the bottle.

The juicy and spicy Tinto Vulcânico displays aromas of cherries, cloves and subtle hints of iodine and balsamic vinegar in the nose. In the mouth Fresh, spicy pallet with cherries and salty notes. Furthermore, mild, ripe tannins and a long fresh aftertaste. Very tasty in combination with light red meat dishes and seasoned poultry/pork from the BBQ or grill.