Southern Coast of Portugal. Organic. Red blend of Verdelho, Arinto dos Acores, Saborinho (i.e. Tinta Negra), and Isabella.

The IV Chão de Sal is a “secret” wine that Paulo makes (hence labeling it IV instead of Insula Vinus), because it's technically not allowed to be produced commercially under EU regulations. That’s because it’s a Palhete (i.e. co-ferment of white and red grapes) made of mixed planted old vines that include Verdelho, Arinto dos Acores, Saborinho (i.e. Tinta Negra), and Isabella, one of many hybrid red varieties that was planted around Europe during the phylloxera crisis. The Azores was one of the few places that kept a lot of these vines in the ground, because of their resistance to downy mildew. The locals love these grapes, because they are significantly easier to farm (and in Paulo’s case, farm organically). Paulo is sourcing these grapes from one the oldest vineyards on the island, in a small corner of Sao Mateus, the cold, southern coast of Pico. The winemaking is a simple, delicate extraction in stainless steel- highlighting crunchy strawberry fruit, kombu umami, and tons of sea salt terroir, hence the name “soil of salt.”