José Manuel Bolieiro highlights IVVA's "strategic role" in "promoting" Azorean wine production
Madalena
Presidência do Governo Regional
The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, stated today that the Azores Vine and Wine Institute (IVVA) is a clear strategic and political boost for the regional wine sector, stressing that this structure serves, "first and foremost, those who produce and process wine in the Azores.
The President of the Government presided over the opening ceremony of the IVVA's governing bodies, held on the island of Pico.
The head of the Azorean Government highlighted the deeply rooted historical connection between wine production and Azorean identity, noting that it is a heritage dating back more than 500 years. It has been consistently asserting itself in recent decades due to the effort, persistence and quality of the work carried out in the field, as it is "a journey of value honouring the Azores and promoting the Region."
Cláudio Lopes took office as President of the Azores Vine and Wine Institute, beginning a cycle that will now focus on the coordination, regulation, and implementation of public policies for the regional wine sector.
José Manuel Bolieiro praised the path set out in the 1990s with the creation of Designations of Origin and the Azores Regional Wine Commission, acknowledging the decisive role played by this structure in the qualification, certification and promotion of Azorean wines. According to the President of the Government, this path has made it possible to "raise the quality, reputation and consolidation of Azorean wines" in regional, national and international markets.
According to the President of the Regional Government, the creation of IVVA is a natural response to the dynamics and maturity achieved by the sector, allowing for more modern, integrated, and effective public intervention to be concentrated in a single entity. The goal, he stressed, is to ensure "greater consistency, rigour, and responsiveness," while ensuring the quality, authenticity, and genuineness of Azorean wines.
The head of the Azorean Government also placed this journey in the broader context of the Azores as an archipelago and remote region, recognising that geography alone does not always facilitate the rapid generation of wealth. Nevertheless, he expressed great pride in the Azorean people, their resilience and their ability to turn difficulties into opportunities, emphasising the "strength of character" of the Azorean people in demonstrating their desire to live, invest and build a future in the Azores.
José Manuel Bolieiro highlighted the importance of a balanced interaction between geography and human action. He pointed out the Pico Island Vineyard Culture Landscape, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as a prime example of this balance - a landscape built by humans without distorting nature, demonstrating that "environmental sustainability is not an impediment, but rather an opportunity."
Concerning the development of Pico Island, the President of the Government announced a commitment between the Regional Government and local authorities to set up a working group to identify solutions aimed at mitigating air accessibility constraints. Among the options under consideration is the extension of the runway at Pico Airport, through a common, progressive and realistic strategy, using EU funds.
The working group will include the participation of IVVA, the Association of Municipalities of Pico Island and SATA, always bearing in mind the preservation of the Vineyard Culture Landscape and the heritage values already acquired, ensuring, as José Manuel Bolieiro stated, that "development does not compromise identity."
Also present were the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, António Ventura, the Regional Secretary for Finance, Planning and Public Administration, Duarte Freitas, the Vice-Mayor of Madalena do Pico, Paulo Marcos, the Mayor of Lajes do Pico, Ana Brum, the Mayor of São Roque do Pico, Luís Silva, and the President of the Vine and Wine Institute, Francisco Toscano Rico.
