Beginning today, October 29, the four-day gathering brings together wine producers, researchers, and industry leaders to explore the identity, international potential, and future of Azorean wines.
On the island of Pico, wine has never been merely a product of the vineyard. It is a conversation between volcanic stone and human perseverance, between the salt-laden Atlantic winds and generations of islanders who learned to cultivate vines where cultivation itself seemed almost impossible. Every glass carries something of that extraordinary inheritance: the labor of those who built walls from black basalt, the resilience of vines rooted in volcanic earth, and the unmistakable character of islands shaped by the ocean. Beginning today, October 29, that centuries-old relationship between land, sea, and human ingenuity becomes the centerpiece of the First Azorean Viticulture and Winemaking Forum, an event dedicated not only to celebrating the archipelago’s remarkable wine heritage but also to examining its future in an increasingly competitive international market.
The town of Madalena, on Pico Island, will host the forum from October 29 through November 1, bringing together wine producers, industry specialists, institutional representatives, and business leaders from across the Azores and beyond.
Organized by the Azores Vine and Wine Institute (IVVA), the gathering takes place under the theme “Atlantic Wines: Identity, Innovation, and the Future.”
The initiative seeks to strengthen the recognition of Azorean wines while encouraging discussion about innovation, international markets, wine tourism, climate change, and the relationship between wine and regional gastronomy.
The opening program begins today at 4:30 p.m. with the reception of participants, followed by the official inaugural session at 5:30 p.m.
One of the opening day’s highlights will be a presentation by Commander Manuel Serpa examining the history of viticulture on Pico, an island where wine production represents both an economic activity and an enduring expression of cultural identity.
The internationalization of Azorean wines will also receive particular attention through presentations by Portugal’s Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade (AICEP) and ViniPortugal, focusing on exports and the promotion of Portuguese wines in international markets.
On Friday, October 30, discussions will turn to the scientific, environmental, and economic challenges confronting the wine industry.
Among the subjects are viticulture in volcanic territories, adaptation to climate change, preservation of indigenous grape varieties, cooperation among producers, fortified wines, and technological innovation.
The program will also examine Madeira’s winemaking experience, emerging wine projects on Santa Maria Island, and the role of municipal governments in protecting and promoting wine-producing landscapes.
During the afternoon, participants will explore the growing importance of wine tourism as a contributor to regional economic development.
Presentations will address international trends and practical experiences developed in the Azores, highlighting opportunities to connect vineyards, cultural heritage, hospitality, and the visitor economy.
The relationship between wine and gastronomy will be examined in a roundtable discussion titled “From Vineyard to Table.” Representatives from hospitality, restaurants, and commerce will consider changing consumer preferences and opportunities to increase the value and visibility of regional products.
Friday’s program will conclude with a wine reception, Pico de Honra, and a musical performance by Orlando Martins.
On Saturday, October 31, the Hotel Pico Terra-Mar will host the First Competition of Certified Azorean Wines, providing an opportunity to recognize the quality and diversity of wines produced throughout the archipelago.
The competition’s awards will be presented on Sunday, November 1, at 10 a.m. in the Madalena Municipal Auditorium, during the forum’s closing ceremony, which will be presided over by Luís Garcia, President of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores.
According to the IVVA, the forum is intended to establish a space for exchanging knowledge, strengthening cooperation, and discussing the long-term development of the Azorean wine industry.
The gathering also reflects the increasing importance of wine as a cultural and economic ambassador for the islands.
Pico’s wine landscape offers a particularly meaningful setting for these discussions. Its historic vineyards, defined by intricate networks of basalt walls protecting vines from the Atlantic environment, demonstrate how generations of islanders transformed a demanding natural landscape into a distinctive agricultural tradition.
Today, that inheritance faces new opportunities and challenges: changing climatic conditions, the preservation of traditional varieties, the need for innovation, and the task of reaching consumers who increasingly seek wines with a strong sense of place.
For the Azores, the future of winemaking will depend not simply on producing more wine, but on preserving the distinctive qualities that make its wines recognizable and valuable.
The forum offers an opportunity to connect that heritage with scientific knowledge, economic development, and international ambition.
And perhaps nowhere is that dialogue more appropriate than on Pico, where the vineyards have long demonstrated that even the most unforgiving stone can become a place of extraordinary fertility.
Here, wine is more than what fills a glass. It is an island’s history made tangible, an expression of human resilience, and a reminder that some of the Atlantic’s most enduring cultural treasures were born from the patient determination to make life flourish between the mountain and the sea.
Based on information released by the Azores Vine and Wine Institute concerning the First Azorean Viticulture and Winemaking Forum, taking place in Madalena, Pico Island, from October 29 to November 1, 2026. From a story in Diário dos Açores-Paulo Viveiros, director. The ohot is from Wikipedia Commons: Luca Nebuloni from Milan, Italy