Luxury Wine Tasting at the Czar Pico Winery

The rarest part of this Pico outing is the wine itself. Czar Pico is made from old Verdelho vines, including centenarian plants, and can reach 18 percent alcohol through fermentation alone. Bottles from limited vintages may sell for more than €1,000, so tasting several editions with producer Fortunato is a rare chance to understand what makes this wine so unusual.

I like the mix of volcanic vineyards and sea views, followed by time at a natural pool. I also like the human scale: Silvia and Natacha guide groups of no more than eight, answer questions, and can share local food and island advice beyond the formal tasting.

The main consideration is the price, $165 per person, and the uneven volcanic ground during part of the walk. You should also know that the tour requires at least four bookings to run, and the pool stop depends on weather.

Key points to know before booking

• Czar Pico is a rare, naturally fermented wine: The wine reaches 18 degrees of alcohol without fortification, unlike port and other fortified wines.
• The vineyard walk is in a UNESCO World Heritage site: You walk among black volcanic walls and vines near the sea in Criacao Velha.
• You may taste limited older vintages: The tasting can include wine aged for eight years in oak barrels, with one edition limited to 1,000 bottles.
• The group stays small: A maximum of eight people makes it easier to speak with Silvia, Natacha, and producer Fortunato.
• The tour combines food, swimming, and wine: Expect up to five wine or drink tastings, up to five food tastings, and a natural pool stop if conditions allow.
• The walk needs sensible footwear: Some ground is flat, but sections cross lava rock and uneven soil between vineyard walls.

Why Czar Pico wine is worth making time for

Pico is not an easy place to grow grapes. The island’s vineyards sit among black lava, and the vines are protected by countless low stone walls. These walls shelter the plants from Atlantic wind while still leaving them exposed to sun and salt air.

Czar wine takes that challenge even further. The grapes are picked very mature, which brings both sweetness and risk. A spell of strong wind or rain can knock the golden grapes to the ground and ruin the entire crop. That helps explain the wine’s scarcity and price better than any polished tasting-room speech.

The wine’s balance is the key point. Czar combines sweetness with strong acidity, while reaching about 18 percent alcohol entirely through fermentation. It is not a liqueur wine and not fortified like port. That places it in a category of its own, at least according to the information shared during the tasting.

You may taste the newly bottled 2015 harvest, along with selected bottles from earlier years. One older wine spent eight years in oak barrels and was limited to 1,000 bottles. This is not a large commercial tasting where every bottle is easy to replace. The supply is small, and some of the wines may be hard to find in regular shops.

That makes the $165 fee easier to understand. You are not paying only for transport and a few pours. The cost includes rare wine, local food, a private visit with the producer, a guided walk, and a small group. It is still a high price for four hours, but wine lovers who value access and context may find the package fair.

If you are mainly looking for a low-cost vineyard visit, this is not the right choice. If you want to taste a little-known Pico wine in the place where it is made, the price has a clearer purpose.

Starting near Madalena’s ferry terminal

The meeting point is near the João Quaresma Maritime Ferry Terminal in Madalena Village. Look for the small statue of Gilberto Mariano da Silva, across the street from CW Azores, a turquoise-blue water sports shop.

This central meeting point is useful if you are arriving by ferry or already spending time in Madalena. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to make your own way to the statue. The exact meeting details matter on Pico, where a simple landmark is often more useful than a formal street address.

From Madalena, private transport takes the group toward Criacao Velha. The drive lasts about 20 minutes and gives you a quick change from village streets to open volcanic farmland and vineyard country.

The small vehicle and group size are practical advantages here. With no more than eight participants, the outing should feel more like a guided day with a local host than a large coach trip. Silvia and Natacha lead in English, French, and Portuguese, so you can choose the language that lets you ask the most questions.

Walking through Criacao Velha’s volcanic vineyards

The first substantial stop is Criacao Velha, part of Pico’s UNESCO World Heritage wine-growing area. The tour spends about 45 minutes here on foot, with scenic views and explanations of the place.

The setting is unusual because the vineyards are built into lava rather than spread across ordinary soil. Stone walls divide the plots into narrow sections, and the vines grow in a setting shaped by volcanic rock, wind, and the nearby sea. You are not simply looking at rows of grapes. You are seeing the physical work required to make agriculture possible on Pico.

Part of the route runs over lava rocks and uneven ground between the walls. Much of it is flat, but you should wear comfortable shoes with a steady sole. This is not a difficult mountain hike, yet it is not a smooth pavement stroll either. If uneven surfaces bother you, the walk deserves some thought before booking.

The short walking time is enough to give the vineyards meaning without turning the afternoon into a long trek. I like that balance. You get the setting and the story, then move on before the heat, wind, or rough ground becomes tiring.

Bring a sun hat, sunscreen, and water. The tour also recommends a towel because a later stop may include swimming. A light, comfortable outfit makes more sense than anything formal, especially if you plan to use the pool.

A private look at rare bottles in Sao Roque do Pico

After the vineyard walk and another scenic drive of about 20 minutes, the group reaches Sao Roque do Pico for the central wine tasting. Allow about 90 minutes here, although the pace can vary.

This is where the outing shifts from place to producer. Fortunato owns some of the oldest Verdelho vines and carries the responsibility of protecting a wine that depends on small harvests and difficult conditions. Meeting him gives you a direct connection between the glass and the work behind it.

The tasting can include up to five drinks. The selection includes awarded local wine from an independent small producer, Czar Pico wines, local liqueurs, and water. You can also expect up to five food tastings, such as local cheeses, fruit, crackers, or local street food and lunch items chosen to work with the wine.

That food matters. Sweet, high-alcohol wine can taste heavy on its own. Cheese, fruit, and crackers give your palate a way to compare the wine’s sweetness and acidity. The food also turns the tasting into a small portrait of Pico rather than a technical exercise.

I would use this time to ask direct questions. Ask how the old vines are protected, how the producer handles the wind, why a particular vintage was held in oak, and how Czar differs from port. The small group makes those conversations possible. With eight people or fewer, you are less likely to lose your question in a crowd.

The wine tasting may also run longer than planned. That can be a good thing if you enjoy slow conversation, but it may affect the rest of your day. Keep your later plans flexible rather than booking a tight connection or fixed dinner immediately afterward.

Finishing at a local pool

The final stop is a traditional village and one of the guides’ favorite natural pools, if the weather allows. The schedule gives this part about 45 minutes, including swimming and local snacks.

Pico’s natural swimming pools are formed where the sea meets volcanic rock. The appeal is simple: after walking among stone walls and concentrating on wine, you get time to cool your feet, swim, or sit beside the water while the conversation continues.

This stop is deliberately relaxed. You can get in the water or simply rest and trade more local stories. That flexibility is helpful if you do not want to swim, or if Atlantic conditions make the water less inviting.

Pack a towel and sunscreen. You should also understand that this is not a guaranteed beach visit. The pool stop depends on the weather, and the exact location is described as one of the guides’ favorite places rather than a fixed attraction with a formal visitor program.

The snacks keep the ending connected to the tasting. Instead of finishing with a rushed transfer back to Madalena, the group has a chance to talk about the island, ask for restaurant or sightseeing tips, and let the afternoon slow down.

The personal touch from Silvia and Natacha

The strongest part of this tour may be its hosts. Silvia and Natacha are described as warm, flexible, and willing to spend extra time with the group. They have also been known to continue the local food introduction at a bar after the formal tasting, when timing allows.

That extra attention can make a difference on Pico, where useful advice often comes through conversation rather than a standard checklist. They can answer questions about Pico and offer suggestions for onward travel to other Azorean islands.

Do not read this as a promise of an extended bar visit every time. The official four-hour schedule remains the useful planning guide. Still, the hosts’ flexibility suggests that the day is not run with a stopwatch in hand.

The guides also bring cultural care to the experience. The tour describes its approach as sensitive to different backgrounds, which matters during a meal and wine tasting. You can ask questions without needing to know the local customs in advance, and the discussion can move between food, family production, farming, and island life.

How the $165 price works in practice

At $165 per person, this is a premium half-day activity. The price includes private transport, the guided walk, up to five drink tastings, up to five food tastings, the producer visit, and the natural pool stop when weather permits.

The small group helps justify the cost. A maximum of eight people allows more direct contact with the guides and producer than a standard winery tour. The limited wine also changes the value equation. If the tasting includes bottles that are difficult to buy elsewhere, you are paying for access rather than just volume.

Still, you should book it for the wine and personal setting, not simply because food and transport are included. Anyone who does not drink wine, or who prefers a broad sightseeing tour with many stops, may find the price harder to justify.

The tour also requires at least four people to be booked. That is important if you are planning around a specific day. You can reserve now and pay later, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time, but the minimum group condition still matters.

Who will enjoy this Pico wine outing most

I would recommend it most strongly to wine enthusiasts, curious food lovers, and people who prefer meeting local producers to visiting large commercial operations. It also suits couples and small groups who want a social afternoon without a crowded bus.

The activity works well for anyone interested in the connection between agriculture and volcanic ground. The vineyard walk gives the wine a physical setting, while the tasting explains the risks behind each harvest.

You should be comfortable with a short walk over uneven lava rock and willing to spend much of the afternoon eating and drinking at a relaxed pace. Bring water even though it is supplied during the tasting, because the outdoor portion can be sunny.

I would be more cautious about booking if you need fully predictable timing, dislike uneven surfaces, or are looking for a bargain. The tour is also not ideal if your main goal is a long swim, since the pool visit depends on weather and lasts only part of the afternoon.

Should you book Czar Pico Winery?

Book this tour if you want a rare wine, a small group, and a clear link between Pico’s volcanic terrain and its food culture. The chance to taste limited Czar vintages and meet Fortunato gives the outing a level of access that a basic winery stop cannot match.

Skip it if $165 feels too high for four hours, or if you would rather spend your day on a broad island tour. For the right person, though, the combination of old vines, sea-level lava vineyards, local snacks, and an unhurried pool stop is a strong way to spend an afternoon on Pico.

FAQ

Where does the Czar Pico wine tour meet?

Meet near the João Quaresma Maritime Ferry Terminal in Madalena Village, Pico Island. The specific landmark is the small statue of Gilberto Mariano da Silva, across the street from the turquoise-blue CW Azores water sports shop.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts four hours. The schedule includes a scenic drive to Criacao Velha, a 45-minute vineyard walk, a wine tasting of about 90 minutes, and a final village and natural pool stop.

How many people can join the tour?

The group is limited to eight participants. The experience requires at least four people booked in order to take place.

Which languages are available?

The live tour is available in English, French, and Portuguese.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes, a sun hat, sunscreen, water, and a towel. Comfortable shoes are especially important because part of the vineyard walk crosses volcanic lava rocks and uneven soil.

Is swimming included?

The tour includes a visit to a favorite natural pool if the weather allows. You can swim or simply relax beside the water, and a towel is recommended.

What is included in the price?

The $165 price includes private transportation, a guided walk in the Pico UNESCO World Heritage wine area, up to five drink tastings, up to five food tastings, guidance from a local food expert, and a natural pool visit when conditions allow. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.