Açores belong to everyone. At least its wines do. This “communist” take on the island is understandable when you see the pricing of most island wines and the one of Insula Chão de Lava AA that clearly belongs to the more affordable camp while providing basic volcanic grit, wind-polished acidity, and a saline edge that doesn’t hurt the tastebuds.

Farming marginal volcanic plots, harvesting in narrow weather windows, and vinifying with the restraint required by a grape that already carries plenty of natural tension—Paulo Machado does it all—within the framework of the Azores Wine Company.

Azores for everyone, that’s what it is. Delightful, no sharp edges and unhappy twists. No one would cringe. Flinty, ferrous, mineral, saline. Handle with care.

The vineyards are rooted in the fractured basalt of Pico, in the middle of the Atlantic. Vines grow inside currais—tight, hand-built stone enclosures made from lava rock that shield them from salt-laden winds while trapping daytime heat. Soils are essentially decomposed volcanic stone: porous, mineral-poor, and unforgiving. Under these conditions, Arinto dos Açores does not chase ripeness; it preserves acidity, structure, and a distinct saline imprint that feels inseparable from the ocean surrounding the island.