Wine producers in the Algarve say the region has successfully overcome its lingering reputation for comparatively poor quality in decades past, with a renaissance in the local industry shown in the doubling of the number of Algarvean winemakers in recent years. But industry figures warn that limited production is holding back efforts to expand into export markets.
Pedro Valadas Monteiro, vice-president of the Algarve’s Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR), said the transformation would have been “unimaginable” two decades ago.
“We have moved from an unfavourable perception linked to low-quality wines to a region that, despite being the country’s second smallest, is showing significant success,” he said.
However, he noted that small production volumes still pose a barrier to “reaching certain channels, such as exports, which call for scale”, this is markedly apparent when compared with the much larger output of neighbouring Alentejo.
Sara Silva, president of the Algarve Wine Commission (CVA), has said that the region has seen “strong growth” in the number of producers. Around 30 were active in 2017; today there are 60, with average vineyards sizes of around four hectares.
“There’s a very strong focus on quality,” she said. “The region is positioned in the premium market, which means selectivity in production and vineyard choice, and that naturally causes lower productivity.”
Four to five new producers have been entering the sector each year, she reveals, including investors in less traditional wine-making areas such as Vilamoura, the outskirts of Aljezur, and Vila do Bispo.
Wine production remains highly dependent on weather conditions, Silva said. The region produced a record two million litres in 2024 but output is to fall by around 15% this year.
“What matters is that all 60 producers are active, with wine reaching the market,” she said. “Fifteen years ago, some producers didn’t have wines commercially available. Today the figures reflect proper, dynamic production.”
Lagoa mayor Luís Encarnação, whose municipality hosted the Algarve’s first wine cooperative in the 1940s, said the region’s wines are increasingly recognised for their quality.
“I’ve attended blind tastings where they perform extremely well, winning silver and gold medals,” he said. “When you taste blindly, the old stigma disappears.”
He added that while Algarve wines were once hard to find in restaurants and hotels, they are now more widespread, including in major supermarkets with dedicated regional displays.
Source: Sul Informação
