Azores Photo Gallery - Pico's Vineyards

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Pico has some unique vineyards with black basalt used to wall around their vines to protect them from the wind and sea water. These corrals stretch almost 1000 hectares on the west coast of the island, and you can walk through a lot of these on designated paths.

This type of farming has origins going back to the 15th century, and was designated UNESCO World Heritage status in 2004.

Wine production on Pico peaked in the 19th century but has since declined due to plant disease and desertification. Production is limited as the wine is still produced using traditional and manual methods so be sure to enjoy some while you are visiting the island.