THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Sit at the balcão and follow a six-course, seafood-forward tasting paired with four wines from Portugal’s oldest vineyards, curated by António Maçanita. This intimate 2.5-hour experience at Azores Wine Company is a concise education in old-vine character and island flavor.
Sit at the balcão and follow a six-course, seafood-forward tasting paired with four wines from Portugal’s oldest vineyards, curated by António Maçanita. This intimate 2.5-hour experience at Azores Wine Company is a concise education in old-vine character and island flavor.
Book with Azores Wine Company
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Azores Wine Company · Bandeiras, Açores
On the windswept edge of Bandeiras, on the Azores archipelago, Old Times invites you to sit at a low-slung balcão and taste a map of Portugal through six tight, seafood-forward plates and four wines from vinhas velhas curated by António Maçanita. The experience—hosted at Azores Wine Company—runs about 2h30 and frames Pico’s volcanic geology and Atlantic light through wines that begin in Alentejo’s Chão dos Eremitas, pass through the steep terraces of the Douro’s Carlão lote, skim Porto Santo’s calcareous sands, and land in the old vines of Criação Velha on Pico. The tasting is not a lecture: it’s counter service as storytelling. Each pour is paired to a dish that leans into the islands’ access to fresh fish and seaweed, highlighting saline mineral notes that echo the basalt and pumice soils that define these islands. That juxtaposition—old-vine concentration against raw Atlantic freshness—is the trip’s signature. António Maçanita’s selections emphasize low-intervention winemaking and sites where vines grow on ancient terraces, producing wines with tense acidity and surprising density despite limited yields. Practical details are lean: the Menu de degustação de 6 pratos is served at the balcão; minimum age is 4; groups over ten should contact Azores Wine Company via +351 918 266 989 or [email protected]. The menu centers on fish and can be adapted for some dietary restrictions with 48 hours’ notice; vegetarian-only and vegan adaptations are limited. If you’re planning to visit during high season, reserve early—seating at the balcão is intentionally intimate. Why travel here? The Old Times tasting distills the Azores’ role as a maritime crossroads — wines from mainland and island vineyards meet seafood harvested locally to form tight pairings you won’t taste elsewhere. The experience is a welcome counterpoint to busy sightseeing: it’s a focused gustatory conversation about terroir, age, and Atlantic exposure. For travelers who want a tasting that teaches by doing, the counter format and Maçanita’s singular curations make Old Times a stand-out appointment. Whether you’re a wine geek tracing grape lineage or a first-time taster wanting clear, immediate pairings, this is a short, memorable way to read the Azores by glass and plate. Inside, the balcão is intentionally close: a single counter with stools so plates and pours arrive in rhythm and conversation stays focused on each pairing. The Azores Wine Company team favors small-batch labels and producers who tend ancient vines by hand, so each glass reads like a field report—minerality, concentrated fruit, and a thread of sea spray. The tasting fits neatly into outdoor days: it’s a calm, instructive stop between hiking and coastal lookouts. Check mobility needs and dietary constraints when booking; the operator requires 48 hours’ notice for allergies. Reserve in advance—groups over ten should call/email ahead.
easy.
2–3 hours.
Low physical effort—suitable for most travelers who can sit at a counter for the session
The Old Times experience runs about 2h30 and covers six dishes paired with four wines.
The balcão menu is fish-based. Some vegetarian adaptations are possible with notice; fully vegan experiences are not available.
Minimum age for the balcão menus is 4 years old.
Groups over ten should contact Azores Wine Company by phone at +351 918 266 989 or email [email protected] to arrange availability.
Yes—inform the operator at least 48 hours before your booking so the kitchen can plan any necessary substitutions.
Accessibility details are not listed; please contact Azores Wine Company directly to confirm accommodations before booking.
Several wines served reference Criação Velha on Pico, part of the island’s historic vineyard culture that shaped local agriculture for centuries.
The tasting spot champions small-batch, low-intervention labels and asks guests to respect local landscapes—avoid single-use plastics and follow guidance when visiting fragile vineyard terraces.
Azores Wine Company is a boutique wine experience based in Bandeiras, Açores. The company curates guided tastings and dining events that showcase wines from the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands and select continental regions of Portugal, Spain and Italy. Experiences range from two-hour tasting journeys—highlighting grape varieties such as Arinto dos Açores, Verdelho, Terrantez do Pico, Listrão and Listan Blanco—to menu-led meals at the open kitchen counter. Tastings include region-focused trips like "Islands – Portugal, Espanha e Itália", island comparisons, single-producer showcases such as António Maçanita selections, and themed menus including "Sal & Especiarias" and "Loucos por Brancos Fantásticos!" Several experiences pair wines with curated dishes; the Menu ao Balcão offers vegetarian customization while noting the tasting menu is not available for guests avoiding meat and fish. Many standard tastings run approximately two hours and draw directly on Pico Island ingredients and Azorean wine traditions. Azores Wine Company connects guests with producers, sources rare local varieties from volcanic terroirs, and maintains a wine library used for special selections. Featured on The Adventure Collective, the business emphasizes authentic regional storytelling, small-group formats and carefully paired flavors. Visitors seeking island wine education, unique tasting menus, or a focused exploration of Azorean grape varieties will find specialized, on-location experiences in Bandeiras.
Book with Azores Wine Company