Vila Real, Portugal, Sept. 3, 2025 (Lusa) - Some Douro winegrowers point to production losses of up to 50%, while others look forward to the support announced by the government. However, some claim that it comes in a year when there are few grapes to distil.
In Régua, Sabrosa, Armamar and São João da Pesqueira, there are producers who are talking about harvest losses higher than the official estimate of 20% from the Vine and Wine Institute (IVV). In Alijó, the reduction may not be so significant.
"There are no grapes," Teresa Barbosa, a wine grower in Sabrosa, told the Lusa news agency, considering that the measure created by the Ministry of Agriculture "would be good in a big harvest year" like 2024.
The government approved a plan for the Douro Demarcated Region (RDD) that provides support of 50 cents per kilo of grapes delivered for distillation, with a budget allocation of €15 million funded by the State Budget.
The measure was created after two harvests in which winegrowers complained about not being able to sell their crop and the low selling price.
The Ministry of Agriculture said that the measure prioritises small winegrowers, guaranteeing them a minimum income and reducing wine surpluses.
In the region, some have doubts about how the support will be applied, while others regret the implementation, given the limited grape harvest in the year.
"The grape harvest is underway, and people need to know what threads to sew with. The measure was positive because, in a way, it established a minimum price for grapes, below which houses couldn't buy. Still, the issue is the delay in regulation," said Luís Correia, a producer in the municipality of Alijó.
The 50 cents per kilo of grapes corresponds to €375 per barrel.
"Last year I received payments for grapes of around €300, and there were many cases where they received €200, others €150, and others didn't receive anything at all," said the wine grower, who felt that the regulations should have been published as soon as they were announced last week.
And, he pointed out, if “to burn it is €375, to drink it has to be a bit more”.
With seven hectares, he expects a harvest identical to last year's of around 50 to 60 barrels. The grapes are all produced for sale.
Teresa Barbosa predicts a “loss of production of around 50% to 60%”.
"We're having a very bad year, and this government measure has made it even worse because in years when there's a shortage of any product, he who has it is king," she said.
In her opinion, the government's support sets the price of grapes at €375 per barrel, and the big houses, when they see this value, automatically consider that this is the level at which they can buy.
Maria Bernardo's production prospects are also "terrible".
"I clearly have 50 per cent less than I had last year. In 2024, I had a fantastic year, and they didn't want grapes. I was left with grapes in the vineyard," said the Armamar producer, who assured that "the grapes that survived are good" and explained that she is in organic production and that this also "creates more challenges in production".
About 10 tonnes of the 60 produced remained in her vineyard.
Paulo Guedes, from Régua, didn't keep any grapes in the vineyard because he harvested them to make his own wine instead of selling them.
This year, he only expects to produce 30 barrels, compared to 85 last year, which is why he feels that the government's support is "out of time".
He recalled that, in April, producers received letters from operators informing them that they didn't want the grapes and that, as a result, some hadn't carried out enough treatments to "pick up the plant".
"Not all wineries, not all co-operatives and winemakers are going to adhere to the government's measure," said winegrower Tiago Fonseca, adding that at the moment he doesn't know what his situation will look like because the operator to whom he will sell the grapes doesn't intend to "adhere to the burning, like many" in the São João da Pesqueira area.
In his opinion, “those who have the grapes on their vines have two options: either wait for someone to come along and take the grapes and distil them into brandy, or leave them on the vines because many wineries are paying between €100 and €170 per barrel”.
"And that's not enough for a winegrower because he has to account for his work, the products he used during the year, the staff who will cut them and the transport to the winery," he warned.
Tiago Fonseca harvested 67 barrels in 2024 and estimates that this year he won't exceed 40 barrels.
The causes of the loss of production include poor sprouting, attacks by diseases such as mildew and oidium, scald and the excessive heat experienced this summer.
Fires also hit some areas of the Douro.
The Douro and Porto Wine Institute (IVDP) said that it was surveying the area of vines affected.
Costs and a lack of labour are other difficulties highlighted in this harvest, which will also be marked by a reduction in the benefit to 75,000 barrels (550 litres each), i.e. a drop of 15,000 barrels in the amount of must that each producer can allocate to the production of Port and which is an important source of income.
For example, Teresa Barbosa went from receiving 80 barrels of benefits to 65, which represents a “drastic reduction” in turnover, as each barrel of benefits corresponds to an average of €1,000.
PLI/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
