Ilha do Pico, “Terras de Lava” Merlot

The Viticultural Cooperative of Pico Island (CVIP), also known as Picowines, was founded in 1949, with its winery beginning operations in 1961. Pico Island, once referred to as the “mother of wine” in the 17th century, saw a severe decline in wine production due to powdery mildew, downy mildew, and phylloxera in the 19th century, leading many landowners to abandon their vineyards. CVIP was established to revitalize the vineyards in the Lajidos da Criação Velha and Santa Luzia areas, which were less affected by these diseases. In 1965, CVIP launched its first fortified wine, Pico Aperitif, aged in wood and produced from the early harvests. In the 1980s, the Azores Viticultural Conversion Plan introduced new grape varieties and restored certified ones, gradually replacing the direct-producer hybrids that had taken over abandoned vineyards. Over time, CVIP modernized its operations and now focuses on producing high-quality wines. The cooperative remains committed to advancing its technical and technological capabilities to meet the growing needs of viticulture and to handle the expected increase in production in the coming years.