Verdelho, Adega do Vulcao 2023

Verdelho is Adega do Vulcão's take on a grape variety that's better known from Madeira, but has been grown in the Azores for centuries. This is a different expression of Verdelho – fresher, more mineral-driven, shaped by the volcanic soils and Atlantic climate of these remote islands.

Like all their wines, it's made with minimal intervention, letting the fruit and the site express themselves without interference. You get citrus, stone fruit, a touch of tropical notes, and that characteristic volcanic tension that keeps everything lifted and precise. There's a saline quality from the proximity to the ocean, and enough acidity to make it incredibly food-friendly.

The Azores are about as far from conventional wine regions as you can get – volcanic soils, Atlantic winds, and a climate that's challenging but produces wines with real character. Adega do Vulcão is part of a small movement of producers working to revive winemaking here, rescuing old vineyards and proving that these islands can produce genuinely interesting wines.

Verdelho shows a different side of what the Azores can do – slightly richer and more textured than their other whites, but still with that freshness and energy that defines the region. It's the kind of wine that tastes like where it comes from, with enough going on to keep it interesting.

Serve it well-chilled with seafood, grilled fish, or anything with a bit of richness. It's versatile enough to work with a range of dishes.