“The Alentejo is astonished by this decision, not only because we oppose the use of public money for wine burning without a promotional component,” but also “because we cannot accept a situation of discrimination against the rest of the country,” argued Luís Sequeira, president of the Alentejo Regional Wine Commission (CVRA).
In statements to Lusa, Sequeira was responding to the Douro action plan approved by the council of ministers on Thursday.
The plan provides support of 50 cents per kilogram of grapes delivered for distillation to prevent loss of income for grape growers, as announced by Agriculture Minister José Manuel Fernandes during a press conference after the council meeting.
“The Douro has a specificity we must consider; it is a UNESCO heritage site, hence we have approved a council of ministers’ resolution with an immediate effect for a support of 50 cents per kilogram [of grapes] for all grape growers, aimed at distillation,” he stated.
