Factor XPTO: Calcareous or volcanic soils, rain or desert, Caracol or Sercial, Porto Santo or Madeira? So close and yet so different, that’s Profetas e Villões!

Porto Santo island emerged in the Atlantic Ocean 14 million year ago, being geologically one of the oldest islands of the Portuguese archipelagos. It’s also the first island to be discovered by the Portuguese sailors, led by Zarco, in 1418. The ancients say that it was from here that the ripest grapes were harvested for the wine that made famous these islands. Today there are less than 14 hectares left, farmed by a group of resistants. In the neighbour island the people of Porto Santo are known as the “Prophets”, an ancient nickname that has never made more sense when you see these old vineyards planted by the sea, close to the ground, protected from the ocean and the wind by rock walls (crochet walls) or by ingenious cane structures.
The island of Madeira emerged 5.6 million years ago in the Atlantic Ocean, with its soils being acidic and volcanic. Known as a maritime route to the Americas and the India, it was a mandatory stop for supplies and the wonderful Madeira wines that brought it fame. The name “Villões” is the nickname that the inhabitants of the small island in front, Porto Santo, with only 3 thousand inhabitants in contrast to Madeira’s 300 thousand, give to the Madeirans. The name comes from the word “vila” (city) and has gained a double connotation today from the part of the “Profetas” (people from Porto Santo).
Behind these wines, Nuno Faria, Madeiran and restaurateur, and António Maçanita, winemaker and explorer of extreme terroirs, friends for more than 15 years and have joined forces to celebrate and explore the potential of these enchanted islands.