Pico Island: why vineyards need walls of black stone

On the Azores island of Pico, grapes grow among a grid of low walls made of dark volcanic stone. From a distance they resemble patterns on the coast, but up close they tell how generations have adapted farming to the wind and ocean.

What is qurraish

Stone walls divide the land into small areas called qurraish. They protect the vines from wind and salt spray. The Pico viticultural landscape is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List; grapes continue to be grown here today.

How to read the landscape

Look not only for vines, but also for long lines of walls, passages between properties, old wine cellars and traces of connections to the coast. Most of this drawing is created by hand. Light and season change the appearance of the fields: in the fall the vines look completely different than during the period of active growth.

Walk among the vineyards

Plan your walk on open routes and avoid climbing over walls: this is part of a protected and working landscape. Comfortable shoes will be useful on the uneven volcanic surface. The weather on the island is changeable, so it is better to have a raincoat and plenty of time.