According to Postal newspaper, Algarve wine production this year should register an increase of 5% compared to 2022, with producers managing to counteract the drought situation, revealed the president of the Algarve Wine Commission (CVA).

Speaking to the Lusa agency, Sara Silva said that the expectations of the 50 Algarve wine producers are for production to grow by 5% in 2023, after a decrease of between 6 and 7% in 2022.

“The sector in the Algarve has been adapting, namely with investments made in intelligent irrigation systems and the use of indigenous plants, which has allowed it to fight the drought situation”, explained Sara Silva.

The president of the Algarve Wine Commission highlights that “producers are aware of the need to use effective irrigation systems and are also increasingly aware of issues of environmental sustainability”.

According to figures provided by the person responsible, the growth in production was achieved mainly with the planting of new vineyards.

The 50 producers have a planted area of ​​around 1,400 hectares, with half of this area producing “quality wine” with geographical indication and designation of origin.

In the Algarve, there are four designations of origin (Lagoa, Lagos, Portimão and Tavira), but most wine is sold under the geographical indication designation.

According to Sara Silva, the region has, on average, between three and four new economic agents in the sector per year.

The leader of the Algarve wine sector said that the harvest this year “started earlier than usual, in mid-July, ending in September” and estimated the expected wine production at 1.6 million liters.

According to Sara Silva, there has been an “increasing use” of the indigenous black soft grape variety, as a differentiating element of a product that is produced in the region.

“This increase in the planting of this variety in the last two years also has environmental benefits, because it is more resistant to climate change”, she concluded.