Companhia de Vinhos dos Profetas e dos Villões
Companhia de Vinhos dos Profetas e dos Villões offers wines that tell stories of passion, resilience and cultural identity.
Profoundly tied to the island of Porto Santo, Nuno Faria, founder of the Companhia de Vinhos dos Profetas e dos Villões, ably turns the welcome of his visitors into promises of enduring friendship.
My journey to the island of Porto Santo begins with a palpable sense of curiosity: I can't wait to explore this faraway corner of the world where wine is a symbol of endurance and adaptation. Where grapes, grown under a scorching sun and buffeted by an incessant wind, epitomise the wild, untamed nature of the island.
This island,' says Nuno Faria with a smile, ’is a place where time seems to stand still. Here, people live slower, simpler lives and every corner of the island exudes a calmness that instantly envelops you.
It is here that Companhia de Vinhos dos Profetas e dos Villões, of which Nuno is a partner, has its headquarters and where the island's grapes, together with those of Madeira, give rise to wines that are quite unparalleled throughout the world.
As the ferry slowly pulls into the berths at Porto Santo, we are welcomed by a cool sea breeze. It is a surreal feeling to arrive on an island that seems completely removed from time.
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A place where the rhythm of life is dictated by the stillness of the waves and the whispering of the wind.
The ferry trip from Madeira to this small Portuguese island was the perfect prelude to an adventure that was to reward us with deep-seated emotions and breathtaking landscapes and, above all, entrance us with a taste of the amazing Listrão dos Profetas.
Listrão dos Profetas is the incredible white wine from Companhia de Vinhos dos Profetas e dos Villões. Taste it alongside the winery's other incredible wines.
The light is intense, yet soft, which makes the golden sands of its long beaches shimmer and the crystal-clear waters fade into a hypnotic blue. The landscape is of a pure, simple and natural beauty. The mountains surrounding us are imposing but never threatening, with barren terrain and warm colours contrasting with the blue of the sea.
Nuño's hospitality in his home is something that is hard to replicate. Every detail reflects his desire to make us feel like a part of his family. It is not simply a formal welcome, but a real gesture of openness and human warmth. I can honestly say that a true friendship was born in Porto Santo.
As we climb aboard Nuño's Mini Mokka and head towards the vineyards, the sun is high in the sky tinging everything with golden and orange hues. The sea breeze caresses our skin and the warm, dusty earth stretches out before us. As Nuno is driving, we pass by old stone walls and he tells us: The name Companhia de Vinhos dos Profetas e dos Villões celebrates the ancient dichotomy between the islands of Porto Santo and Madeira: the residents of Porto Santo are called ‘Prophets’ and those of Madeira ‘Villains’. This project represents a bridge between the two islands' wine traditions, offering wines that tell stories of passion, resilience and cultural identity.
We arrive at the first vineyard, a little corner of paradise, where Mr Gardina is the guardian of the Caracol grapes, a vine few people outside Porto Santo have even heard of.
Here, the vines spread out over the land and clamber with their green leaves and tendrils up the cane structures and dry-stone walls used to protect them from the strong winds. The soil is rich in limestone, and Nuno explains that it is this very soil that gives his wines that unique minerality that can be tasted in every sip. We stop next to a bunch of golden grapes, ready to be picked. Every season is different,' says Mr Gardina, ’and this year the heat and the ocean wind have given the wine an even stronger character. He stoops to touch the earth, in an intimate and profound dialogue, then stands up and points out another vineyard: the one where Listrão grows.
The salty ocean air mingles with the earthy scent of the vineyards that stretch along the dry hillsides. Every step taken in this remote landscape seems to tell a story, one of tradition and secrets guarded by successive generations of winegrowers.
With a welcoming smile, Mr Gardina invites us to visit his winery not far away. His experienced, time-worn hands guide us through the dark wooden doors, where the air is fresh and rich with the scent of wood and aged wine. The cellar is lit by soft lights that create an intimate, cosy atmosphere. A window onto an ancient world.
His fortified wine, produced for a select few, is an extension of his family's passion and tradition.
With each word, the wine seems to come to life, as if the land itself were the central character in a centuries-old narrative.
Then, with a simple but meaningful gesture, he proffers us the first glass. The wine is full-bodied, with an enveloping sweetness that mingles with spicy notes, all balanced by a slight alcoholic kick that enriches the flavour.
We savour the moment, enjoying every sip as if it were a small revelation, as Mr Gardina, with noticeable pride, but also humility, looks on at our expressions, happy to share the fruits of his labours with us.
The keys gleam in Nuno's hands and, with a quick rev of the engine, we are ready to go. The Mini Mokka, agile and squeaky, accompanies us along scenic roads with the promise of new tastes lying ahead.
Imagine arriving in an isolated, somewhat desolate area where, squatly deposited alongside a repair shop with an up and over garage door, three hulking refrigerated containers stand. A winery that defies all convention, a little out of the ordinary, yet perfectly in line with the unique vision of Companhia de Vinhos dos Profetas e dos Villões. It is a decidedly daring project, far removed from the classic elegant and imposing structures, like the castle of Fitapreta or the mysterious ‘James Bond villain’ style base of the Azores Wine Company.
Here you will not find imposing castles or huge rock bunkers, but a radical and functional vision of the winemaking process.
On entering the repair shop, the atmosphere is informal and cosy: as we perch atop pallets of empty bottles, we enjoy anecdotes and stories as if they were a breather from the daily grind.
This is a place that exudes simplicity, one of those wineries where the magic of wine is mixed with the spontaneity of the environment.
There is nothing pretentious here, just the pleasure of a good glass and the sound of laughter echoing around the walls of this former repair shop.
The small space only adds to the charm of the moment. Whenever we have to move, we find ourselves leaping from one pallet to another, as if we were doing a little dance, creating a kind of spontaneous game. Our movements are a tad awkward but fun, and each of us makes their own way with a certain ease, as if the place were a large impromptu arena. It is an atmosphere that needs no formality; on the contrary, it seems that every gesture, every laugh, and every leap brings us ever closer to that feeling of freedom and carefreeness that only a place such as this can offer.
Nuño invites us to sit on the barrels, which look like improvised tables, and we laugh as he sucks up the wine directly from the barrels with a long plastic tube, as if it were an everyday, easily affordable drink. It is a primitive gesture, but also incredibly intimate.
We step out into the forecourt, where the sun beats down hard on the soil of Porto Santo, and make our way to the three containers that seem abandoned, almost forgotten. The air is dry and the sound of the wind blowing through the vines is the only sound that interrupts the stillness. When we open the creaking container doors, our gaze is immediately caught by a scene that seems straight out of an alchemy book. Inside, sheltered from the light and wind, at a controlled temperature, are row upon row of oak barrels all neatly arranged. Each barrel, with its own natural patina, seems to spin tales of time and patience. Here, the wine of Companhia de Vinhos dos Profetas e dos Villões matures in silence, under the protection of these invisible guardians.
The atmosphere is cool and humid, a stark contrast to the arid heat of the forecourt. The smell of oak and ageing wine fills the air, creating an almost sacred atmosphere, as if each barrel were a container of history.
Guided by Nuno, I approach the barrels, insert the tube and siphon out the fresh, young wine, savouring its minerality and vitality with every sip. There is no elegance in this,' he tells me, ’But there is a beauty in connecting directly with the wine, without filters’.
The sound of the tube dipping into the barrel, the gurgle of the wine rising and dripping down into the glasses are part of the music of the place, while time seems to lose all meaning. I don't know how many hours we spent sampling from one barrel to another. There are no rules, just the pleasure of being together in this little corner of the world, where wine is drunk simply, directly, without frills, and where every moment is a genuine connection with the earth.
Each sip of wine is like taking a brief journey through the very land itself, a direct encounter with the character of Porto Santo. The flavours are intense, often with brackish notes reminiscent of the sea and with hints of spices that evoke the warmth of the sun. Only in the Azores have I been so impressed.
That is precisely why I decided to bring almost the entire production of Companhia de Vinhos dos Profetas e dos Villões back to Italy with me.
Caracol dos Profetas is a white wine with a vibrant freshness, hints of floral notes combined with iodine and gunpowder profiles. Its balanced acidity makes it a very versatile wine.
Caracol Fazendas das Areia comes from a vineyard located in the sandy area of Fazendas das Areias. The Caracol grapes here grow in a soil that lends great intensity to the wine. The result is a wine with a great expression of its terroir: hints of citrus, iodine and gunpowder blend with a pleasant sapidity. The finish is long and refreshing.
Listrão dos Profetas. The Listrão variety, also known as Palomino Fino, originates from Jerez, but here has found a new expression. It is a fascinating white that represents a perfect combination of structure and complexity. It imparts a remarkable intensity, which makes it particularly lively and agile. The mineral component is well balanced, giving a saline sensation and a slight savouriness that enriches the body of the wine. It has superb persistence and is by far the wine that impressed me most.
Vinho da Corda dos Profetas. The ‘cord wine’ was one of the ways in which ‘liqueurs’ were prepared in the past, before the arrival of brandy in the mid-17th century. Vineyards planted closer to the sea were allowed to reach different levels of ripeness, resulting in a naturally concentrated must. The technique consisted of first separating the flower wine, which was lighter and fresher, and then, from the final pressing, extracting the ‘cord wine’ with a more golden and darker appearance, which was so fashionable at the time. This Vinho da Corda demonstrates the potential of this island for rich, authentic and naturally oxidative wines. The wine has a golden yellow, almost coppery colour, a very intense nose that smells of caramelised salt, somewhere between a Madeira and a Jerez wine, unique and singular, with ferric, iodine and intense notes. On the palate, it is very full-bodied, highly concentrated and very persistent. A wine to be discovered.
Crosta Calcária is the jewel in the crown produced by Companhia de Vinhos dos Profetas e dos Villões, originating from a unique terroir, characterised by an extraordinary interaction between the soil and the local climatic conditions. The name ‘Crosta Calcária’ evokes the distinctive element of this wine: the calcareous soil which, with its mineral composition, enriches the grapes with a complexity that is directly reflected in the wine's profile.
Voted Portugal's third best wine for 2025, Crosta Calcária stands out for its elegance and complex character. On the nose, it expresses saline and iodine mineral notes. The palate is full-bodied and structured, with a finish that recalls the typical minerality of the calcareous soil. It reveals an exquisite persistence, and from the very first taste, Crosta Calcária offers a unique experience.
The sound of waves crashing on the beach, birds singing and palm trees rustling in the wind create a natural symphony that accompanies us on our way.
Leaving Porto Santo is a jumble of mixed emotions: there is the lure of new adventures, but also a feeling of gratitude for having experienced the island. The slowly receding landscape, with its hills and the blue sea melting into the horizon, is like a picture etched into the mind. A nostalgia that holds a promise.
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Every month we will present an unknown and exclusive winery we have discovered. Every month you will receive what we consider to be its best bottle delivered directly to your door: a wine that is always new, exclusive and surprising. At Easter, 10% discount.
