PICO WINE: THE HISTORY OF A HEROIC AND SUBVERSIVE WINE (PART II)

The early golden age of Pico wine

After being introduced in the Azores archipelago in the 15th century, the profusion of new vines extended to several islands, which due to natural reasons excluded the occidental group.

From subsistence strategy to exportation

The first reports of Azores wine exports date back to the 16th century, when the wine finally made it to international markets.

However, it was from the almost ungovernable Pico volcanic lava, after an epic landscape transformation was achieved, and thanks to the hard work of picarotos, that the wine production capacity was revealed, marked by the achievement of excellence!

At the end of the 17th century, Pico wine acquired the status of income source, conquering the world market (Meneses, 2010). The vineyards expanded on lava soils throughout the island, mainly around the region of Madalena.

This geographical expansion had several important indirect consequences to Pico island and its local inhabitants.

The multiplication of vines took place in non-arable soils, conquering the so-called biscoitos, that is areas formed by lava rock that present a slight decomposition but that are still very hard and intractable. As an effect, easier to plough lands became available for growing other crops, especially cereals and legumes.

This sudden blossoming wine production ended up dictating the creation of the municipality of Madalena (1723) on Pico island and the emergence of the port of Horta, in Faial.

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