Biscoitos is the only part of Terceira destined to wine production. A characteristic landscape of black stone walls and bright green vine leaves laying on them is even protected by the Azorean government. Biscoitos wine is an important part of the island’s heritage.
…which was the time of the colonization of the island. Already the first settlers used the volcanic soil for grapevine cultivation. In 1647 a wine Verdelho started to be commonly used. It’s a variety that adapted well to the humid conditions on the island. One of its features is a loose grapes cluster. Such clusters are less prone to rotting.
Nothing is though 100% resistant to other plagues. In the 18th and 19th century different plagues attacked vineyards in Terceira. Among them there was also destructive phylloxera, which blasted also many other vineyards in the world. It was in 1890 when a crazy man, as they thought at that time, or a dreamer, as you can say now, Francisco Maria Brum, decided to reactivate wine production. He founded a vineyard! He started in Fontinhas and then moved to Biscoitos. This vineyard has been known as Casa Agrícola Brum. It’s been working uninterruptedly for almost 130 years, led by already the 5th generation of the same family. Still with the same passion!
Verdelho variety grows on a volcanic soil aming so called „biscoitos” („cookies”) – small volcanic Stones. This viticulture is different than the ones we know from for example France or Italy. In Terceira the future Biscoitos wine grows on little squares or rectangles surrounded by walls made of black volcanic rocks. Vines don’t ramp up along the lines, but sprawl over even more stones placed on the soil around them.
Stone walls protect the vines from the cold salty wind blowing from the ocean, and the walls combined with the Stones that lay on the ground create a special microclimate. The stones warm up during the day and release the heat during the night. Thanks to that, the grapes ripen faster and produce more sugar. The Biscoitos wine, even the dry one, won’t make your face twitch. The view of the vineyard by the sea may make you smile dreamily though.
In 1990, at the 100th anniversary of its vineyard, the family Brom opened the Wine Museum in Biscoitos. In this museum you can get to know not only the history of the family Brum and their vineyard, but also the history of the island and of winemaking. You can also see the Verdelho wine variety (for the museum needs, exceptionally growing vertically) and try delicious wine.
The traditional wine of this wine house is fortified wine Chico Maria (dry, semi-dry and sweet). For the table wine lovers there are Da Resistência and Donatário waiting. All of them matured in oak barrels before getting bottled and destined to sell. Yes, yes, if you like some wine, you can buy it on the premises and then relish the memories of your visit in Terceira for long time.
On selected day in late August, at the Wine Museum, you can see people in traditional costumes picking grapes into traditional wicker baskets, participate in grape trampling, drink wine from clay pots, and try traditional Azorean snacks. There’s also always a celebration with music and dancing.
Localization: Museu do Vinho dos Biscoitos is located on the North of the island, in Biscoitos, at Canada do Caldeiro 3.
Opening days and hours: from Tuesday do Saturday, 1:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.
How to get there: because of the wine tasting I recommend using the public transport; you will get there on the bus no. 1 from Angra (tell the driver “Biscoitos, Museu do Vinho”); you will find the schedule of the buses HERE.
Entrance free
Wine prices: depending on the type and year, around 10 to 40 EUR
Recommendation: fortified wine
