Exploring Pico Island's UNESCO Vineyards

Flashback to that time I explored wine country on Pico Island in the Azores of Portugal.⁠ 🍇⁠ Not only does the island make great "vinho", but many of its vineyards hold heritage importance. Within the UNESCO World Heritage wine area of Criação Velha, home to the most extensive network of vineyards on Pico Island, you can take a walk through the basalt wall-lined vineyards and do a tour, workshop, or tasting at the local Pico Island Wine Cooperative.⁠ 🍷⁠ The area focuses on historical grapes like verdelho, arinto, and terrantez as vintners work to preserve a heritage that has been around since the first settlers arrived in the 15th century.⁠ 😮⁠ To immerse yourself in this old world, drive about 15 more minutes to Lajido, where houses are done in a 15th-century style — simple constructions made from stone without the use of concrete with small glass windows and red and green doors to signify if you were poor or wealthy, respectively — abound.⁠ ✨⁠ Here you’ll also find a distillery/museum worth checking out to see how they make liquors and firewater using old stone machines.⁠ ⛏️⁠ Have you ever visited the Azores or tried the wine from there? 🍷 #BeyondTheGuidebook⁠