The Açores VR ( pt, Açores Vinho Regional) is a

Portuguese wine Portuguese wine was mostly introduced by the Romans and other ancient Mediterranean peoples who traded with local coastal populations, mainly in the South. In pre-Roman Gallaecia-Lusitania times, the native peoples only drank beer and were unfami ...

region located in the archipelago of the

Azores ) , motto =( en, "Rather die free than subjected in peace") , anthem= ( en, "Anthem of the Azores") , image_map=Locator_map_of_Azores_in_EU.svg , map_alt=Location of the Azores within the European Union , map_caption=Location of the Azores wi ...

. This region is classified as a '' Vinho Regional'' (VR), which corresponds to

table wine Table wine (rarely abbreviated TW) is a wine term with two different meanings: a style of wine and a quality level within wine classification. In the United States, the term primarily designates a wine style: an ordinary wine which is not fortifi ...

s with a geographical indication under

European Union wine regulations European Union wine regulations are common legislation related to wine existing within the European Union (EU),French ''

vin de pays ''Vin de pays'' (, "country wine") was a French wine classification that was above the '' vin de table'' classification, but below the ''appellation d'origine contrôlée'' (AOC) classification and below the former ''vin délimité de qualité s ...

'' region.

History

Located in the

Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...

, some from continental Portugal, the archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine islands, of which three cultivate wine-making grapes for export production:

Terceira Terceira () is a volcanic island in the Azores archipelago, in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the larger islands of the archipelago, with a population of 53,311 inhabitants in an area of approximately . It is the location ...

Pico Pico may refer to: Places The Moon * Mons Pico, a lunar mountain in the northern part of the Mare Imbrium basin Portugal * Pico, a civil parish in the municipality of Vila Verde * Pico da Pedra, a civil parish in the municipality of Ribeir ...

and

Graciosa Graciosa Island () (literally "graceful" or "enchanting" in Portuguese) is referred to as the ''White Island'', the northernmost of the Central Group of islands in the Azores. The ovular Portuguese island has an area of , a length of and a width ...

.Maria João Fernão-Pires, ed., (2011), p.259 Located on the American, European and African tectonic plates, the islands of the Azores originated from recent volcanism, and have soils that are shallow in depth, consisting of basalt, traquites, andesites and clay formations. Agriculture has remained an important aspect part of the region, with primarily milk-production dominating, in addition to pineapple, cereals and other greenhouse-based vegetables. The islands were colonized in the middle of the 15th century, and the first castes were introduced by

Franciscan , image = FrancescoCoA PioM.svg , image_size = 200px , caption = A cross, Christ's arm and Saint Francis's arm, a universal symbol of the Franciscans , abbreviation = OFM , predecessor = , ...

friars, who realized that the conditions in this region were comparable to Sicily and introduced the Verdelho caste (Verdecchio siciliano) which quickly spread on the islands. The wine produced from these grapes was largely exported, particularly from the island of Pico, to much of northern Europe and Russia. After the Bolshevik revolution of 1917, many cases of Verdelho wine from Pico were found in the wine-cellars and warehouses of the Czar's residences. The geographical designation ''Açores'' by government order 853/2004 (19 July 2004) was used to certify all the red and white wines produced throughout the archipelago.

IPR Subregions

The quality and prestige of Azorean wines have been recognized for a long time, resulting in the recognition of three ''Indicações de Proveniência Regulamentada'' (''Indication of Regulated Provenance'') for the wines of

and Biscoitos. The

Pico IPR The Pico IPR is a Portuguese wine region located on the island of Pico in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. The region is designated a second-tier '' Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada'' (IPR) classification, and potentially may be r ...

wine is a white wine produced from grapes grown on the rocky soils, located along the western coast of the island. The vines used in this wine are cultivated in tiny plots, called ''currais'', edged by walls made of loose pebbles, in order to protect the plants from the climate. The geographic area of the Controlled Appellation (Regulated Origin) ''Pico'' covers the

municipalities A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...

Madalena Madalena is a feminine given name. It is a Portuguese form of Magdalene. It may refer to: People *Madalena Alberto, Portuguese actress, singer and composer * Madalena Boavida, East Timorese politician *Maddalena Casulana, (c. 1544–c. 1590), I ...

(the

civil parishes In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties, or their combined form, the unitary authority. ...

, Candelária,

Criação Velha Criação Velha is a civil parish in the municipality of Madalena on the island of Pico in the Azores. The population in 2011 was 768, in an area of 18.36 km². It contains the localities Alto da Cêrca, Canada de Beatriz, Canada de Pedro Nune ...

and

Bandeiras The ''Bandeirantes'' (), literally "flag-carriers", were slavers, explorers, adventurers, and fortune hunters in early Colonial Brazil. They are largely responsible for Brazil's great expansion westward, far beyond the Tordesillas Line of 149 ...

); in the municipality of

São Roque do Pico São Roque do Pico () is a municipality in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores, occupying most of the northern side of the island of Pico. As of 2021, it has 3,221 inhabitants spread through five freguesias (civil parishes) in an area of 142. ...

(civil parishes of Santa Luzia and part of the parish of Prainha, in the locality of Baía de Canas); and in

Lajes do Pico Lajes do Pico () is a town and municipality in the central Azores. It is one of three municipalities of the island of Pico. It has 4,342 inhabitants as of 2021, in an area of 155.31 km2. It is bordered by Madalena to the west and by São Roqu ...

(civil parish of Piedade, in localities of Engrade and Manhenha), in areas equal or under height. The white

Graciosa IPR Graciosa is a Portuguese wine region centered on the island of Graciosa in the Azores. The region has the second tier '' Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada'' (IPR) classification and may some day be promoted to '' Denominação de Origem Con ...

wines are produced from similar of Pico, although other variants are cultivated in more secluded areas. The geographic area of the Controlled Appellation (Regulated Origin) Graciosa covers the municipality of Santa Cruz, and specifically the civil parishes of Santa Cruz, Gudalupe, Praia and Lux, in areas equal or under height. The prestigious white wine of the

Biscoitos IPR Biscoitos is a Portuguese wine region located on the Terceira island of the Azores. The region has the second tier '' Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada'' (IPR) classification and maybe some day promoted to Denominação de Origem Controlada ...

is produced from the dark and rocky volcanic soils on the island of Terceira, marked by bread-like rock formations that allowed the protection from the intemperate climate in the area. Similarly, the Biscoitos IPR producers employ small plots or , made of short walls of loose rock, to help protect the plants from the wind. The geographic area of the Controlled Appellation (Regulated Origin) Biscoitos covers in the

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...

of Praia da Vitória, in the

civil parish In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties, or their combined form, the unitary authorit ...

of Biscoitos, in areas equal or under height.Maria João Fernão-Pires, ed., (2011), p.263

References

;Notes ;Sources * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Acores Vr Wine regions of Portugal

History

IPR Subregions

See also

References