Wine Producers Take to the Streets Demanding Government Intervention Amid Douro's Worst Crisis

More than 500 winegrowers protested in the Douro region, one of Portugal's most prestigious wine-producing areas, to call for increased government support. The region is facing one of its most severe crises to date, with producers struggling to make ends meet.

Maria José Macedo, a 59-year-old winegrower from Tabuaço, shared her plight: "My father always managed to make a living from the vineyard, but he's gone now. He wouldn't want to see me give up, but this is too much. I've been losing money for years because costs keep rising. And then, either the grapes stay on the vine, or I'm forced to sell them at a very low price to avoid losing everything."

The Minister of Agriculture, José Manuel Fernandes, attributes the crisis to an imbalance between production and demand, suggesting that the solution lies in "producing less wine until equilibrium is found." However, protesters argue that the influx of cheaper grapes from Spain, which are then sold as Port wine without the proper origin certification, is exacerbating the problem.

Producers are calling for stricter fiscalization of musts and wines coming from outside the region, claiming that without such measures, it's impossible for them to sell their grapes. "This is a cry of revolt after three consecutive years of being harmed," said one winegrower, highlighting the refusal of many companies to accept grapes for Port wine production or to take the surplus.

The protest underscores the deepening crisis in Portugal's wine industry, with the Douro region at its epicenter. Producers are urging immediate government action to safeguard their livelihoods and the future of one of the country's most iconic exports.