Regional Government launches €1.8 million call for proposals to support investment in wine sector - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e Alimentação

The Government of the Azores, through the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food, will open a new call for applications for the VITIS programme – Vineyard Restructuring and Conversion, with a budget of €1.8 million.

The application period runs from May 18 to June 19, 2026, under the Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy (PEPAC) 2023–2027.

For the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, António Ventura, the launch of this call  “reiterates the Regional Government’s commitment to supporting the wine sector, enhancing the value of regional production, preserving traditional vineyard landscapes and boosting the competitiveness of Azorean producers in an increasingly demanding market.”

The government official emphasised that the Government's strategy is based on a clear vision of higher-quality production and modern farms, capable of establishing themselves both within and outside the Region.

Under Ordinance no. 40/2025 of April 23, this financial instrument supports the planting of new vineyards and the restructuring and conversion of vineyard plots, with a strong focus on organic production methods.

Support for producers takes the form of direct financial contributions towards investment and compensation for income loss associated with the transition period for vineyards, thereby ensuring the necessary stability and predictability for investors.

This will be the second call for applications launched under the current PEPAC framework, following the first call opened in December 2025. It has already included 6.46 hectares of vineyards undergoing conversion, with a balanced distribution across different islands.

The historical impact of this programme has been truly transformative in the region: between 2014 and 2023, VITIS led to the approval of 644 applications, transforming approximately 955 hectares of vineyards, corresponding to an overall investment of over €24.9 million in the archipelago.

“The results achieved in recent years show that VITIS is a decisive tool for transforming Azorean viticulture,” emphasised António Ventura.

According to the government official, “every restructured hectare and every producer deciding to invest represents a firm step towards building a sector.”

“This new Notice is a clear invitation to producers to continue investing, innovating and believing, seeing that competitiveness is built on vision, hard work and consistent support,” concluded the Secretary for Agriculture.