Ilha Do Pico Açores Branco 'Terras de Lava', 2020

This wine is made of 70% Arinto dos Açores, 25% Verdelho, and 5% Fernão Pires. Ilha Do Pico is located on the volcanic island of Pico, in a group of Portuguese islands called the Azores, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The winery is actually the largest and oldest cooperative in the Azores, selecting high quality grapes from local producers. The wine is sharp and briny, classic markers of its volcanic island terroir, and even has a faint smoky note, lingering on the finish. Even with its sharpness, this branco also displays tremendous fruit, and will cut through rich flavorful dishes. This wine is a perfect pairing for a New Haven clam pie, or mussels and crust bread.