COLOUR
Rosé
TYPE
Still
VINTAGE
NV
GRAPE
Isabella
PRODUCER
António Maçanita
REGION
Açores
CHARACTERISTICS
Body
Medium - Light
Sweetness
Dry
Acidity
High
Finish
Medium - Long
Intensity
Mid - Pronounced
AROMAS & FLAVOURS
ABOUT THIS WINE
A Proibida is a rebellious creation by acclaimed Portuguese winemaker António Maçanita on the volcanic island of Pico in the Azores. The wine is made from Isabella, an American hybrid grape brought to the Azores in the 19th century to survive the phylloxera epidemic. Because EU regulations ban hybrid grapes from official quality classifications, Maçanita was forbidden from putting 'Isabella' on the label. In defiance, he crossed out the grape's name with a bold red line and named the wine 'A Proibida' (The Forbidden), celebrating over two centuries of Azorean viticultural heritage.
ALCOHOL
11.0%
AVG. PRICE
€22
STYLE
Classic
VEGAN
NO
SULPHITES
YES
When to drink
Now
Ideal temperature
10-12°C
INTERESTING FACTS
Fact 01
The grape Isabella is legally banned from EU quality categories, so the winemaker crossed out its name on the label in protest.
Fact 02
Vines are grown in 'currais'—hand-built basalt stone walled pens that protect them from violent, salty Atlantic winds.
Fact 03
The vineyards are so close to the ocean that local folklore says you can hear the crabs singing from the vines.
FOOD PAIRING
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WINE MAKING PROCESS
The winemaking process for this rosé focuses on preserving the vibrant, wild character of the Isabella grape. Grapes are manually harvested into small 20 kg baskets and selected on a sorting table. The grapes are gently pressed and moved entirely by gravity flow to avoid harsh extraction. After a cold skin maceration of 3 to 6 hours to extract its delicate salmon color, spontaneous fermentation is carried out with wild yeasts at a controlled temperature of 12°C in stainless steel tanks. The wine is aged entirely in stainless steel with no oak contact to maintain its pristine volcanic minerality.
