Quick Details
- Up to 10 food tastings crafted by Chef Natacha Dias (equivalent to a full meal)
- Up to 6 Pico wine tastings, including fortified wine (awarded local wine tasting, from an independent Pico producer; local liqueurs; water)
- Guided walk in Pico Unesco Heritage and to the producer’s vines
- Experience conducted and hosted by:
- a food cutural expert with transcultural sensitivity,
- a local independent wine producer and wine expert
- and the Chef.
- Private transportation
Adult
Ages 17+
€160
€ 150
Youth
(12-17)
€ 90
Children
(3-12)
€ 90
Infant
(0-2)
€ 60
A curator, an independent winemaker, and a private chef gather to welcome you, sharing their craft, their stories, and their table
This experience is not a conventional tasting or dinner. It is an encounter — with the winemaker’s insights, the chef’s vision, and the curator’s narrative of Pico itself, all woven into a shared table where questions are welcomed and discoveries unfold.
This is a rare opportunity to experience Pico Island’s volcanic wine culture at its source — with direct access to the makers and the creators behind it all.
Our encounter begins where Pico’s story truly unfolds: on foot, among the vines, with the Atlantic at your side.
This introduction is led by Silvia Olivença, founder of Oh My Cod Tours and the curator of this experience. Silvia guides guests through the landscape with cultural, historical, and personal context — explaining how this vineyard culture was shaped by survival, ingenuity, and centuries of manual labor, and why Pico’s wine renaissance is so meaningful today. This immersive walk is crucial: it frames everything that follows. Before tasting a single wine, guests gain a deep sensory and intellectual understanding of Pico’s uniqueness.
You’ll walk through the Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture, a dramatic labyrinth of lava-stone walls and ancient vineyards recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004 before an intimate visit to the vineyards and winery of an independent awared local producer – born and raised in Pico’s volcanic landscape and who we deeply admire for his authenticity, the quality and diversity of his wines, and his modesty despite the recognition and wisdom he brings to Pico’s wine scene.
His journey from local youth to independent winemaker embodies the resilience and ingenuity required to cultivate vines where basalt and salt-laden winds challenge every growing season. You will feel comfortable asking him anything — about vineyard philosophy, specific vintages, technical decisions, and the real challenges of crafting wine on one of Europe’s most extreme and remote terroirs from soil scarcity and climatic volatility to low yields and small-scale production. This is not a scripted cellar visit, but a genuine exchange with the producer himself. For wine lovers and producers alike, this is a conversation you rarely get outside industry seminars.
As the tasting unfolds, you’ll discover wines that reflect Pico’s saline minerality, Atlantic freshness, and disciplined craftsmanship, from vivid whites with citrus tension to rosés and structured expressions that show the island’s volcanic signature. These are wines that spark curiosity — and demand thoughtful pairing.
That’s where Chef Natacha Dias enters the story. Formally trained in Lisbon and deeply connected to the Azores, Natacha’s cooking reflects a balance of technique, seasonality, and place. She is also a licensed skipper and experienced fisherwoman, bringing an authentic touch to island seafood and fresh catches.
For this experience, Natacha has crafted a multi-course menu designed specifically to pair with the wines you will explore (up to 6 different wines from the same independent producer). Her approach celebrates the very elements that define Pico’s wines — minerality, freshness, and Atlantic intensity — while drawing on Portuguese culinary roots with creative global influences.
Each course not only enhances the wine’s character but tells a story of land, sea, and culture, curated by a chef who marries technical skill with heartfelt hospitality. Every plate becomes a conversation.
This experience is not a conventional tasting or dinner. It is an encounter — with the winemaker’s insights, the chef’s vision, and the curator’s narrative of Pico itself, all woven into a shared table where questions are welcomed and discoveries unfold.
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- Up to 10 food tastings crafted by Chef Natacha Dias (equivalent to a full meal)
- Up to 6 Pico wine tastings, including fortified wine (awarded local wine tasting, from an independent Pico producer; local liqueurs; water)
- Guided walk in Pico Unesco Heritage and to the producer’s vines
- Experience by a local food expert with transcultural sensitivity
- Private transportation
-
Who is this experience for?
This experience is ideal for wine and food lovers who enjoy immersing themselves in local life through genuine connections with the people who shape it. It is perfect for those wishing to celebrate a special occasion in a meaningful way. It especially resonates with serious wine enthusiasts, sommeliers, chefs, and fellow producers who value direct access, meaningful conversation, and a true sense of place. And for slow travelers drawn to the cultural, historical, and human context of food and wine. Pico wine, after all, is considered a historic wine!
It is ideal for couples and small groups who appreciate intimacy, authenticity, and craftsmanship.
When is the best time to do it?
There is truly no bad time to enjoy this experience! It can be scheduled for lunch, dinner, or anywhere in between. For dinner experiences, we always plan the timing to begin before sunset, allowing guests to walk through the vineyards bathed in Pico’s soft, golden light.
The experience is available year-round and is especially appealing during the low season, when many restaurants on Pico Island are closed. It is also an excellent choice for guests staying near our secret wine table, located close to São Caetano, who wish to enjoy a unique, intimate food and wine experience just moments away.
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- This experience can be 100% suitable for vegetarians, gluten-free foodies, pescatarians, lactose intolerant, and keto diet travelers. Private food tour not required.
- If you’re a group of Halal foodies or Vegans, please contact us for a private tour as we have an itinerary tailored just for you!
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- Comfortable clothes and shoes (the walking in Pico vineyards is mostly done on top of lava rock)
- Bottle of water
- Sun protector, hat.
- Curiosity
MEETING POINT
On the tour day, you will meet the group near the Ferry Boat terminal in Madalena Village, Pico Island. The exact meeting point is a small statue of Gilberto Mariano da Silva.
As a reference, just in front, you will find a small water sports shop, in blue turquoise, named CW Azores. We will meet, across the street right in front of CW Azores where you will find the statue.
It’s a very central area so I think you will not have any problem finding it, but feel free to contact us if you need before the experience starts.
Google Map
FAQ
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Starting our experience in Pico’s unique UNESCO Landscape, allows us to value what nature and people have to offer.
Our initial walk of 700 meters, is partially done on top of volcanic lava rocks with uneven soil, in between the vineyards walls, but most of it will be on flat soil.
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I fell in love with these islands, especially with Pico, when I spent several months there living, working, tasting and exploring. These personal experiences allowed me to create natural connections that I have shared with small groups of travelers since 2021, through cultural and culinary trips and tours, which emerged organically as part of the fabric of my life – as happened to all OMC tours and experiences which are always authentic, eclectic and deeply rooted in the region and its people!
My background in Anthropology gives me tools to better understand how food and beverages are manifestations of local traditions and communities, embedded into a certain place or culture.
We facilitate access to experiences beyond what other commercial travel agents can book and that would be difficult for you to conceptualize alone or in a short time. Our organized activities have structure and fluidity. You’ll ‘live’ an authentic connection with people and local culture in a fun and relaxed way.
At OMC we preach and practice ‘transformative tourism’ meaning your experience has the potential to change you positively. Each time we organize one of our events we bear this in mind. We only work with small groups and exclusive experiences. We emphasize local narratives and personal stories rather than ‘universal’ theories. We believe we are all cultural actors and creators with our part to play.
Finally, it’s part of OMC’s spirit to be eclectic, which means we offer you experiences that range from traditional to innovative, from award-winning producers to exclusive and homemade meals cooked by natives, where the oral and popular knowledge dialogue with the ‘scientific’ one, where dominant narratives/products/wines are questioned by subversive ones.
Note from the founder, Sílvia Olivença, member of the Slow Food Foundation.
For more frequently asked questions about weather, alcohol, and dietary restrictions, please visit our FAQ page here.
