Ponta Delgada, Portugal, April 13, 2026 (Lusa) - Annual grape production in Portugal's Azores archipelago reached 1,048 tonnes in 2025, a record for the last 20 years, with Pico island leading the sector, the regional government said.
At the opening of Expo Atlantic Terroir 2026 (a trade fair celebrating the unique environmental factors affecting regional wines) held last weekend at Terceira island’s Multisectoral Park, agriculture and food regional secretary António Ventura said the Azores wine sector is experiencing "strong dynamism and regenerative entrepreneurship."
A government press release on Monday cited the official, who said wine production currently plays "a decisive role in the islands' economic and social regeneration, supported by historic results and an increasingly entrepreneurial ecosystem."
He said 2025 marked a record for the last two decades, with regional grape production reaching 1,048 tonnes. Pico island produced 92% of the regional total (956 tonnes), followed by Terceira island with 36 tonnes.
"This sector's vigour also reflects the number of businesses in the market," he said.
In 2025, the Azores Wine and Vineyard Institute (IVVA, the regional regulatory body) recorded a record 35 registered producers. This number "remains solid in 2026, with a new high expected by the end of the year."
Data from 1 April 2026 showed the market had 115 brands and 179 commercial references, beating the previous year's record.
The secretary said the government was distributing 3,700 vines of Verdelho, Terrantês do Pico and Arinto (traditional grape varieties) to farmers. These plants resulted from a project with the Azores Biotechnology Centre.
Ventura announced a new research line to certify traditional variety rootstocks (the underground part of a plant used for grafting). He said the measure "aims to strengthen the executive's commitment to sustainability and the protection of the archipelago's unique wine heritage."
"The vitality of these figures, combined with the continuous focus on science and innovation, confirms that Azorean viticulture is on the right path towards an increasingly competitive future," he said.
The secretary said this investment cycle "shows the sector is prepared for external market challenges while maintaining the quality and authenticity of Azores' wines."
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