The production of wine in the Algarve should increase «about 20%», despite the atypical year registered, which forced the anticipation of the harvest, revealed today the Wine Commission of the region (CVA).
The high temperatures in July accelerated the maturation of the grapes, making it necessary to harvest them early, «in order to preserve the natural characteristics of the varieties and in this way enhance the final quality of the wines, maintaining their balance in fruity and floral aromas and flavours. », explains the CVA.
Carlos Gracias, president of CVA, anticipates a successful year: "if economic conditions remain favorable and we continue to increase the region's tourist attractiveness, we anticipate 2018 - with the help of the distribution and catering sector - a record year in the marketing of Algarve Wines».
For Mário Santos – owner and producer of Quinta da Tôr wines – expectations are equally encouraging for 2018.
With an increase in production and maintaining the quality of the grapes, the winegrower says that «after the harvest of a part of the production, of which we have already started winemaking, I notice the grapes are very healthy and with a great balance in sugar and acidity, which gives me very good prospects for this year's production».
For Mário Santos, the anticipation of the harvest is also a reality, considering “it is normal for it to happen like this, as it was a very dry year and summer”.
"We are not going to be affected in quantity and quality with this fact, as we regulated the ripening of the grapes with irrigation, which counteracted the effect of drought," he added.
The lack of labor for grape harvesting is a reality that has occurred in other wine regions and to which the Algarve is not immune, being further aggravated by the strong demand that the tourist sector has for labor in this region. height.
Therefore, stresses the CVA, "many producers see the need to hire temporary workers outside the region to fill this gap."
In an initiative of the Loulé Criativo project, of the Loulé municipality, Quinta da Tôr received a group to participate in the grape harvest and learn about the process from harvesting to winemaking.
For the visitors, it was a full day, where they could get to know from the vineyard, the winery, the typical foods of the region combined with the wines of Quinta da Tôr and ending the event with the traditional foot treading, the result of which will be used for the production of Algarve Wine.
«These investments in the segment of experiences and wine tourism are becoming a contribution to the diversification and consolidation of wine projects in the Algarve and an added value for tourism», stresses the CVA.
Photos: Vico Ughetto|CVA
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