Algarve wine has pulled off a comeback few thought possible: once dismissed as low-quality, the region is now winning new fans, racking up awards and attracting a growing wave of new producers. But industry leaders warn that the next big step of exporting in force will only be possible once the region boosts production.
“Twenty years ago, nobody would have imagined the qualitative leap the region would make. We went from a discredited image, associated with poor-quality wines, to a region that, despite being the second smallest in the country, shows great success,” Pedro Valadas Monteiro, vice-president of the Algarve Coordination and Regional Development Commission (CCDR Algarve), told Lusa news agency.
Still, limited volume keeps the Algarve out of major distribution channels, especially when competing with the massive output of neighbouring Alentejo, he explained.
Sara Silva, president of the Algarve Wine Commission (CVA), says producer numbers have doubled in the past eight years – from around 30 in 2017 to 60 today – with four to five new winemakers joining every year.
“There is a very strong focus on quality. We could have greater production potential, but the positioning of the region is for ‘premium’ wines. That implies selection in production and in the choice of vineyards, which naturally reduces productivity,” Silva told Lusa.
Production this year is due to fall 15% below the record numbers registered in 2024 – two million litres of wine produced. But the CVA boss is not worried, stressing that production depends on nature, weather and other factors that cannot be controlled.
“What matters is that the 60 producers are active, have vineyards producing, and put wine on the market. Fifteen years ago the reality was different: we could have 25 producers, but some of them didn’t have active wines on the market. Today the numbers reflect real production and effective sector dynamics,” she said.
Luís Encarnação, who is mayor of Lagoa which hosted the Algarve’s first wine producer cooperative in the 1940s, has also hailed the growing quality of Algarve wines, which have been winning awards in Portugal and abroad.
“I have attended blind tastings where they rank very well, winning silver and gold medals. When wine is tasted blindly, the stigma disappears. Our wines have quality and are well placed among the best in Portugal,” the mayor said.
A growing partnership between winemakers, restaurants and tourism is also boosting the region’s reputation. Events like ‘Entre Pratos e Vinhos’ (Between Dishes and Wines), running this month across 20 establishments, pair certified Algarve wines with curated menus, and even offer lodging experiences for wine-focused travellers.
