Portugal and its viticultural background

The Economy

A European Union member since 1986, Portugal (population 10 million) was backward and heavily agriculture-dependent, but has since made up a lot of ground on its co-members. Recent indicators show however that growth is slowing. The gap on the wealthier member states is not following the targets set. Latest forecasts for growth (till 2003) are below the EC average of 3%. Employment is one of the lowest in Europe at around 4%.

Vines and Wines in Portugal

Despite its small size, Portugal is the seventh largest wine producing country in the World. Proportionately, it has more area dedicated to vineyards than any other country in the world.

Portugal has long been known for its Port wine as well as its accessible Rosés and Dão or Bairrada wines. In the last decade or so however, one region has come to the fore as the premium producer of quality wine in Portugal and abroad: the Alentejo – the most sparsely populated and perhaps the most picturesque region of Portugal.