Peso da Régua, Portugal, July 2, 2025 (Lusa) - The winegrowers who gathered in Régua on Wednesday for a demonstration chose to go their separate ways, with some continuing the protest through the streets of the town and others remaining in front of the station building.

The National Confederation of Agriculture (CNA) called the demonstration, and between 400 and 500 producers gathered in front of Régua station, in the district of Vila Real. When it was time for the protesters to move forward, some followed the organisers through the streets of the city, while others preferred to stay in the same place.

People heard the song “Grândola Vila Morena” by Zeca Afonso, and, despite the chant “Douro united will always prevail,” the winegrowers split up because they wanted to organise the protest in different ways.

The protesters held up placards reading “The Douro is on the brink, in defence of our survival and our land we will succeed”, “We look to the future”, “We want an outlet for our grapes”, “Inspect must and wine from outside the region”, “We created the heritage”, “Douro winegrowers demand equal treatment from the government as TAP and BES”, “Inspect musts and wines from outside the region” and “Douro wines only with grapes from the Douro”.

Some wore black shirts, and winegrower Manuel Covas even carried a sprayer on his back, used to treat the vines.

"The harvest is just around the corner, and some exporters are rejecting grapes from winegrowers, which is unfortunate. Winegrowers faced a very serious crisis last year. With this second crisis, they need additional support," said the farmer from São João da Pesqueira, explaining that he had abandoned his vineyard because he cannot "inject his pension money into it".

That is why, he stressed, the “government needs to take urgent measures,” such as crisis distillation, “even if it is for the last time, to relieve the wineries and enable them to receive this year’s harvest.”

“We are facing significant challenges, we sell the product at low prices, which is the case with grapes, and then people go to a restaurant and pay a fortune for a bottle while we offer it at very affordable prices,” said Vitor Souto, from Tabuaço. The producer listed difficulties such as production costs (for products and fuel) and labour, and then stated that a barrel of wine (made from 750 kilos of grapes) is sold for €200 or €300.

“Last year I managed to sell the grapes at very low prices, and we spent the amount we received for a barrel of wine on the harvest,” he stressed.

That is why he stressed that it is important to come here today “to open the eyes of the government so that they realise what is happening”.

 “We face significant challenges. The Douro is a World Heritage Site, and if we choose to withdraw, brambles and broom may take over, leaving little for tourists to see,” said Vitor Souto. Jorge Teixeira, from Régua, shouted “enough” several times. “Let’s stop spending money without seeing a return; we are happily impoverishing ourselves,” he said. Ester Ventura, from Armamar, sold her vineyards “because the wine brought no profit”. “We worked hard all year, and most of the wine remained unsold, and what sold fetched a low price,” she said.

“Wherever the winegrowers are, Casa do Douro has to be there. It’s about demonstrating that we’re committed to improving what’s happening. Winegrowing in the Douro currently presents growth opportunities,” said the institution’s president, Rui Paredes, who said that the government is looking at some measures for the region.

One of the proposed measures is the use of grapes for distillation, which would allow winegrowers to harvest grapes exclusively for distillation, receiving direct financial compensation.

“The Douro has endured a prolonged period of mourning and now seeks renewed strength,” said Marinete Alves, a winegrower who advocates the production of aguardente from grapes grown in the region, a measure she says producers should implement gradually, as well as the setting of a minimum price for the sale of grapes and the creation of a Grape Observatory.

The protesters continued along the main avenue of Régua, João Franco, passing by the headquarters of Casa do Douro and IVDP, where the protest organisers delivered speeches.

The rest remained at 12 noon in front of the station, blocking traffic on one of the main access roads.

PLI/ADB // ADB.

Lusa