“Twenty years ago, no one would have imagined the qualitative leap the region would take. We moved from a disreputable image, associated with poor-quality wines, to a [viticulture] region that, despite being the second smallest in the country, demonstrates great success,” summarizes Pedro Valadas Monteiro.
The vice-president of the Algarve’s Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR) points out that the limited production quantity remains a barrier to “reaching certain channels, such as export, which demands scale,” especially when the neighboring Alentejo region has a massive wine production.
“In tourism, there are business models with purchasing centers in other parts of the country, handling large volumes and undifferentiated products,” he notes, emphasizing that despite being the second smallest production region, the Algarve has been “breaking free from its old bad image.”
Sara Silva, president of the Algarve Wine Commission (CVA), highlights the significant growth in the number of producers: in 2017, there were about 30 producers, and currently, the Algarve has 60, with average vineyard areas of four hectares, although there are larger producers.
“There’s a strong focus on quality. We can have a greater production potential, but the region’s positioning is in ‘premium’ wines. This requires selection in production and vineyard choice, which naturally reduces productivity,” she acknowledges, noting that since 2017, between four and five new producers arise each year.
Sara Silva also mentions that besides producers expanding their vineyard areas, new investors have been emerging, some in less traditional areas, such as Vilamoura, the outskirts of Aljezur, or even Vila do Bispo on the west coast of Faro district.
However, it is crucial to remember that production depends on nature and wine is not a standardized product: “There are more productive years and less. In 2024, we reached a record of two million liters. This year will be about 15% lower,” she calculated.
“The important thing is that the 60 producers are active, have producing vineyards, and place wine on the market. Fifteen years ago, the reality was different: we might have had 25 producers, but some did not have active wines on the market. Today the numbers reflect actual production and a dynamic sector,” remarked the CVA president.
The president of the Lagoa Municipality, where the first cooperative of Algarve wine producers was established in the 1940s, also highlights the “excellent quality” of Algarve wines, noting they’ve been well-positioned in wine competitions in Portugal and Europe.
“I’ve witnessed blind tastings where they are well positioned, winning silver and gold medals. When wine is tasted blindly, the stigma disappears. Our wines have quality and rank well among the best in Portugal,” notes Luís Encarnação.
The mayor stated that a few years ago, it was very difficult to find Algarve wines on restaurant and hotel menus in the region, but currently, that scenario has changed, and even in large retail chains, regional wines are easily accessible, with dedicated sections for Algarve wines.
This collaboration among sector entities in the region has helped unite wine tasting with gastronomy and tourism, exemplified by the “Entre pratos e vinhos” event, which runs until the end of the month in about 20 participating establishments.
The event, organized by CVA and featuring the “Stay” section for the second year, promotes accommodations offering wine-related experiences and helps boost the restaurant and hotel industry during the low season, with exclusive menu pairings of dishes and certified local wines.
The Algarve Wine Commission is responsible for certifying and promoting wines with the geographical indication “Algarve” and the origin designations Lagos, Portimão, Lagoa, and Tavira.
