Winegrowers in the Douro region are demonstrating in Régua on Wednesday against the cuts in port wine production this harvest and to demand greater control over wine imports and the flow of production at a fair price.
The reduction in profits, which is the amount of must that each winegrower can use to produce port wine and which is also one of their main sources of income, was the slogan of the protest called by the Association of Winegrowers and Family Farming of Douriense (Avadouriense), together with the National Confederation of Agriculture (CNA).
Duero winegrowers say they have “hit rock bottom” and promise to take to the streets in force
The interprofessional council of the Douro and Port Wine Institute (IVDP) set the benefit at 90,000 barrels (550 liters) for the 2024 harvest, which represents a reduction of 14,000 barrels in port wine production.
Vítor Herdeiro, winemaker and director of Avadouriense, summed up to the Lusa agency The three main reasons for the protest.: the reduction in profits, the reduction in yield per hectare from 10 to eight barrels and also uncertainties in the flow of grapes.
“Exporters are preparing to stop producing because they say they are full,” he stressed, warning of the influx of imported wine in the region.
Already last year, arguing with the stocks In the meantime, there were companies that did not buy or bought fewer grapes from winegrowers.
“This, in our opinion, It could be the beginning of a social catastrophe in the Duero Demarcated Region,” he said.
Winegrowers warn of a “social catastrophe” in the Duero and move forward with the demonstration
Vítor Herdeiro also stressed that, in this protest, winegrowers will demand a fair price for grapes and wines and the control and limitation of imports of wines and musts.
In two years, the Duero lost 26,000 profit kites, which is approximately 26 million euros less, taking into account the average of 1,000 euros per kite.
The demonstration will meet at the IVDP building, the public institute whose mission is to promote the control of the quality and quantity of Port wines, regulating the production process, as well as the protection and defence of the Douro and Porto designations of origin. The protest will end at the Peso da Régua station square, in the Vila Real district.
Source: Observadora
