Vinho de Cheiro

"The weird red wine every Azorean uncle swears is amazing."

Vinho de Cheiro is one of the most traditional wines in the Azores. It’s made from American hybrid grapes, usually the Isabella grape, and it’s famous for its strong fruity smell and deep purple color.

The name literally means “wine with a smell”, which honestly describes it pretty well. The aroma is very intense, often compared to strawberries or very ripe fruit. Some people love it. Others think it smells strange. There’s usually no middle ground.

Historically, this wine became popular in the Azores in the 19th century after diseases destroyed many traditional European vineyards. The American grape varieties were much more resistant, so they spread quickly across the islands.

Today, vinho de cheiro is mostly homemade. Families produce it in small quantities, and you’ll often see it during traditional festivities like the Divino Espírito Santo celebrations. It’s rarely exported and it’s not something you’ll usually find outside the islands.

Now my opinion: I personally don’t like it. But that’s mainly because I don’t like red wine in general. If you enjoy red wine, you should definitely try it at least once. A lot of locals love it, especially when eating traditional Azorean food.

The alcohol content is usually low, around 6–10%, and the taste is very distinctive. Even if it’s not your thing, it’s still a small but very real part of Azorean culture.

The truth is that vinho de cheiro is mostly homemade, so the best way to try it is usually through locals, traditional festivals, or small rural restaurants.

Some traditional restaurants and taverns occasionally serve it, especially places focused on local Azorean cuisine, but availability depends a lot on the producer.

If you see it on a menu, it’s worth trying at least once, just to experience a piece of Azorean tradition.