It will be a “new phase for Algarve wines and wine tourism,” says president of Algarve Wine Commission (CVA)
The municipal council of Lagoa is in the final stages of purchasing the headquarters of the Algarve Wine Commission (CVA), a decades-old property along the EN125 national road, and turning it into a modern, thriving hub for Algarve wines and wine tourism.
The plan is to turn the building into the place to visit for wine lovers in the Algarve.
Lagoa council has already received approval from ESTAMO, a state-owned company responsible for managing and selling non-strategic public assets, to acquire the property – owned by Portugal’s wine and vine institute (IVV) – as well as the greenlight from the Minister of the Presidency. If all goes according to plan, the purchase deed will be signed this January,” Lagoa mayor Luís Encarnação told Barlavento newspaper.
Once the deal is completed, efforts will focus on revamping the building and creating a “small space” for a delegation of the Association of Portuguese Wine Municipalities (AMPV) and a store featuring a vast selection of Algarve wines, the mayor added
Around €325,000 is being invested in the project by the council, which will oversee development of the building’s rehabilitation project. Adjacent land will also be used for municipal maintenance facilities, and an existing residential area in the building will be refurbished.
This project ties into the CVA’s Algarve Wine Tourism initiative, launched in 2023, which connects over 20 local producers to promote wine-related tourism. Sara Silva, who leads the CVA, says the new centre will become a hub for events and tasting.
The wine commission has been based at the property since its creation in 1991, but this new investment by Lagoa council is expected to mark a “new phase for Algarve wines and wine tourism,” Sara Silva says.
Although the building dates back to the 1970s, Silva says it is structurally sound and boasts an excellent location along the EN125, a busy national road used by thousands of drivers every day.
“It has great potential to become the ‘home’ of Algarve Wines. In other words, it will be a focal point for anyone who wants to learn more about Algarve wines and buy them,” the CVA boss said.
All CVA’s 61 registered winemakers will be showcased at the centre, from smaller to larger-sized estates, allowing visitors to discover everything the region has to offer wine lovers. Winemakers will also be given the opportunity to host their own promotional events at the property.
The CVA has a busy calendar for 2025, including international fairs and several training sessions in partnership with local hospitality schools. Key events include the 17th Algarve Wine Competition in May, the third “Between Dishes and Wines” initiative in October, and the second Algarve Wine Session for wine and tourism professionals.
Lagoa is also leading a bid, in partnership with Portimão, Monchique, and São Brás de Alportel, to become the European Wine City in 2026. The winner will be announced in April, with promotional activities planned, including presentations at the Madrid International Tourism Fair on January 25.
The initiative will also feature at the Third European Convention of Wine Regions, to be held from January 30 to February 1 at the Convento de São José in Lagoa, in collaboration with the AMPV.
