Located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, between Europe and North America, the Azores are made up of nine islands parallel to Lisbon with latitudes of 39''43 '/36'55'N. The Arinto grapes for this wine are grown in DOP Pico, Pico Island, the second largest and most ventral of the archipelago. The landscape features the eponymous volcano, Ponta do Pico, the highest mountain in Portugal, the Azores, and the highest elevation of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Geologically speaking, Pico is the most recently formed island of the Azores, around 300,000 years old. Wine production on the island dates back to the 15th century. The climate is humid and sub-tropical, with warm, rainy winters and warm, drier summers, but the constant sea breezes from the Atlantic help keep the vines healthy. Pico is called the Ilha Preta, the ‘Black Island’, due to its black volcanic soils nourish its UNESCO-designated vineyards that cover less than 1,000 hectares today. The combination of the pure volcanic soil with the extreme Atlantic influence makes this wine region unique. The vineyards are surrounded and protected by basalt stone walls that resemble mazes and reduce the harsh effects of the Atlantic winds and salt water. The vineyards are manually cultivated, and the grapes are hand-harvested at optimum maturity.