Vila Real, Portugal, Aug. 20, 2025 (Lusa) - The National Confederation of Agriculture (CNA) on Wednesday called on the government to implement the measure for grapes for distillation, which will be allocated €13 million, pointing out that the Douro harvest is just around the corner.

"First of all, the government must materialise the measure of €13 million to support grape distillation, something it has been announcing for a long time, but which has yet to materialise. We're on the doorstep of the grape harvest and farmers need to know what they can count on and that's still not on the ground," said Vítor Rodrigues, head of the CNA.

The CNA and the associated Association of Winegrowers and Douro Family Farming (Avadouriense) held a press conference today in front of the Casa do Douro headquarters in Peso da Régua, Vila Real district, to warn about the harvest that is starting in the Douro Demarcated Region and to demand that the government quickly implement support measures.

Douro winegrowers are complaining of difficulties in getting their grapes to market, of selling them at low prices and of the 15,000 barrels cut in the benefit (to 75,000 barrels of wine), i.e. the amount that each producer can allocate to the production of Port.

In July, the Ministry of Agriculture and Maritime Affairs announced that it was preparing an action plan for the sustainable management and valorisation of the Douro wine sector, which includes integrated actions to reduce surpluses, adjust production potential and strengthen value creation.

A source from the Ministry of Agriculture told Lusa today that this plan "has been finalised" and will be scheduled for a cabinet meeting "later this month".

As for this plan, Vítor Rodrigues said that, for the time being, "it's just intentions" and argued that it should include the use of regional brandy in the production of Port, which would help to solve the problem of the flow of wine in the region, rejecting outright the reduction of the Douro's productive potential, namely by grubbing up vines.

"And it seems that this is one of the paths that is being mapped out," he warned.

He also urged the government to acquire 15,000 barrels of Port currently in stock.

Vítor Herdeiro, from Avadouriense, said that the plan announced by the government is a "drop in the ocean" and recalled the difficulty of selling grapes that are not destined for distilling.

Berta Santos, also a CNA leader, warned against abandoning the activity and warned that a "region without people is pasture for fires".

José Ventura, a small wine grower in Armamar, said he doesn't know what will happen this harvest, nor what measures might be included in the government's plan or what he will do with the unprocessed grapes. This year, he'll be able to harvest four barrels (550 litres each) of benefit, whereas he harvested 12 barrels 25 years ago.

"Maybe they'll hang there, I'm not going to cut them," he said, considering that "the grapes are being paid below the cost of production" and that he's been taking money out of his salary to put into the vineyard.

He also mentioned that production costs have been rising for 25 years, while the price of grapes has stagnated, and that if current conditions continue, he may give up on the vineyard and let it grow wild.

António Lareiro, from Armamar, complained that the winery where he places his grapes "hasn't paid for three harvests" and so his concern is to receive what he's owed and to ensure that the grapes he's going to deliver this harvest will be paid for.

Rosa Matilde, from Galafura, Régua, has three hectares of vines and said that she has been selling the grapes, but is still waiting to see what happens this year.

"We still haven't received the letters for this year," she said, concerned about what to do with the fruits of her labour.

The action plan for the Douro was developed by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Sea, in conjunction with the Douro and Port Wine Institute (IVDP), the Vine and Wine Institute (IVV), the Planning, Policies and General Administration Office (GPP), the Northern Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR-N) and the Agriculture and Fisheries Financing Institute (IFAP).

The ministry said that the document also benefited from the active collaboration of producer associations, cooperatives and other representative structures in the region.

PLI/ADB // ADB.

Lusa