The magical Azores islands are a nature-filled paradise, with agriculture being the region’s primary economic sector for centuries. The production of top quality, natural products have been increasingly receiving more international attention since the mineral-rich volcanic soil and golden gulf stream breezes, making this an ideal location to grow grapes for wine production. These nine islands all produce wines, with the regions of Pico, Graciosa, and Terceira being the most internationally acclaimed. The production of wine has been an art that has been passed down in some family vineyards for over a century. The main three islands of wine production are why Azorean wines are finding their way onto the lists of top Portuguese wines year after year. The wines have always been a hidden gem for the right wine connoisseurs who enjoy wines from the old world and the unique flavor and taste they represent. It was known in the Azores during production times when many vineyards would have to make exceptional cases of the wines for their loyal customers. The latter demanded only the finest wines with the best years of production. In the late 19th century, the wines were being shipped all over to wealthy merchants and were consumed regularly by all the Azores islands’ locals. Czar Nicholas II; one of the secret customers who had come to be revealed during the Russian revolution when the Bolsheviks took over Russia’s control from the 300 years of ruling the Romanov dynasty and came into communist rule under Lenin. The palaces of the Romanov family were searched after the abduction of the throne. They found countless cases of the prized Azorean Wines from Pico’s region in his royal wine cellar at Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. The cellar was raided, and much of it was sold or consumed during the Russian revolution since it was one of the rarest, most extensive collections of wines in the world at the time.

The wines from Pico island have received numerous international awards. They are not in the same category as the wines from Madeira, which are carried in restaurants and stores worldwide. The local wines are served at all restaurants and hotel bars in the Azores and are worth trying while visiting. Portugal has always been a region for high-quality wine production, and while in the Azores, you should indulge your palettes a visit some of the local wineries and see the ancient method of production while enjoying samples of the vineyards newest vintages.