Azores? Isn't that something about weather? In fact, most people know the name in connection with the high pressure area. Some know that it is a group of islands belonging to Portugal in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, but almost no one knows the Azores as a wine region. António Maçanita wants to change that. He is a natural vinophile: at just 39 years old, he was voted «Winemaker of the Year» in Portugal. But it all started with a mishap... At 20, António had only one thing on his mind: surfing. University played second fiddle in his life. He wanted to study marine biology, but got confused with the course numbers and accidentally ended up with agricultural sciences. A nudge from fate? In any case, it pulled his sleeve in – and so today the surfer is riding the wave of success of his wines. António has found his personal challenge especially in the reconstruction of old wine landscapes. That's how he ended up in the Azores, his father's homeland. It used to be a renowned region that even supplied the Tsar's court, but phylloxera almost brought viticulture to a standstill. Yet the vineyards on the volcanic island of Pico are absolutely impressive: In order for vines to be planted at all, the island's inhabitants first had to break up the lava layer. Walls were piled up from the lava rubble. These centuries-old «currais» have protected the vines from the Atlantic winds ever since. «Our wines are unique, pure, fresh, challenging and with a pinch of salt... just like life!» says António with an emphasis that makes our mood barometer rise. His «Branco Vulcanico» is our Azores high!