Luxury wine tasting at the Czar Pico winery

Set against the rugged coastline of Madalena on Portugal’s Pico Island, Oh My Cod Tours offers a rare journey into the heart of one of the world’s most exceptional wine traditions. The Czar Pico winery experience delivers not just a tasting but an intimate encounter with a vineyard rooted in ancient history, unique geology, and unyielding human passion. Pico Island’s wine region, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2004, rises from volcanic lava soil that shapes every cluster of Verdelho grapes grown here.

These vines are among the oldest on the island, producing a wine that harsh Atlantic winds and fierce rains have tested for centuries. Your day begins with a stroll along the sea-swept vineyards on Pico’s slopes, where volcanic stone walls snake across fields and the salty ocean breeze mingles with fertile earth. Oh My Cod Tours guides share the fascinating story of Fortunato Garcia, the winemaker who crafts Czar Pico wine from grapes left to ripen so fully they almost shrivel to raisins.

This daring approach results in a strikingly potent wine, naturally reaching 18 degrees alcohol, balanced by a refined sweetness and acidity. Annual yields can be scarce due to weather’s mercurial effects, making each bottle a collector’s prize. After immersing in vineyard lore, the tour offers a refreshing pause at a nearby natural swimming pool carved from volcanic rock—a perfect spot to cool off and hear local anecdotes before the grand finale.

The tasting itself is a quiet, reverent experience inside Czar Winery, where the exclusive 2013 vintage awaits, aged eight years in oak barrels and limited to just 1,000 bottles worldwide. This encounter marries the wild beauty of Pico’s landscape with a wine culture forged in volcanic stone and Atlantic spray. Oh My Cod Tours channels this extraordinary setting into an authentic adventure that pairs active outdoor discovery with a cultured appreciation for one of Portugal’s finest terroirs.