Azorean wine sector sets new records for brands and wine certification, says António Ventura - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e Alimentação

During a visit to the Oenology Laboratory, the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, António Ventura, accompanied by the President of the Azores Vine and Wine Institute (IVVA), Cláudio Lopes, emphasised that “the Azorean wine sector continues to establish itself as one of the most dynamic agrifood sectors in the Region. It has shown sustained growth underpinned by the enhancement of production, the technical skills of industry stakeholders and investment in innovation and research.”

The latest figures from the Azores Vine and Wine Institute (IVVA), dated July 6, 2026, reveal a very significant improvement in the sector’s key indicators. As of today, 104 trade marks and 192 commercial references have been registered – the highest figures ever recorded – reflecting the growing confidence of producers and businesses in the potential of the Azorean wine industry. At the same time, there are 35 certified economic operators, spread across five islands of the Region.

There has also been a very positive trend in wine certification. In just five certification tastings held this year, 125 candidate wines have already been submitted, amounting to around 471,000 litres, with approximately 432,000 litres achieving certification, showcasing the growing quality of wines produced in the Azores.

The area of vineyard approved for the production of PDO- and PGI-certified wines is another indicator of the sector’s strong expansion. Between 2016 and 2026, it increased from around 216 hectares to over 1,200 hectares, highlighting ongoing investment in the recovery and planting of new vineyards, as well as in the promotion of traditional Azorean grape varieties.

This growth has been accompanied by strengthened technical and scientific capacity at the Regional Oenology Laboratory, whose activities have seen a significant growth over the last decade. The number of physico-chemical tests conducted has risen from around 2,180 in 2016 to over 5,200 in 2025, keeping pace with the development of regional production and ensuring an increasingly high-quality technical support service for winegrowers and producers.

At the same time, the Laboratory continues to play a key role in applied research. As part of the partnership with the Azores Biotechnology Centre, aimed at the phytosanitary improvement of traditional grape varieties such as Verdelho, Terrantez do Pico and Arinto dos Açores, around 3,700 certified plants are now available and will be delivered to the IVVA for subsequent distribution to winegrowers. There are also plans to launch a new line of research dedicated to the certification of rootstocks for traditional Azorean grape varieties, thus strengthening the sustainability and competitiveness of the regional wine industry.

Training and knowledge transfer also continue to play a central role in the sector’s development strategy. Between 2015 and 2024, dozens of awareness-raising activities, specialised training courses, workshops and technical and scientific dissemination initiatives were organised for producers, technical staff, students and the general public, contributing to the ongoing improvement of winemaking practices and the promotion of Azorean wines. These initiatives involved more than 700 participants, serving as an important tool for capacity-building within the sector.

The progress made over recent years confirms that the Azorean wine industry is experiencing a period of consistent growth, underpinned by the promotion of certified wines, technological innovation, scientific research and the strengthening of the skills of its economic stakeholders, thereby creating the conditions to boost the competitiveness and recognition of Azorean wines in national and international markets.

According to the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, “the Regional Oenology Laboratory is now a leading scientific facility for the development of the Azorean wine industry.”

He continued: “The significant increase in its activity demonstrates the confidence of producers and the importance of this public service in ensuring the quality, safety and promotion of Azores wines.”

"Scientific knowledge, innovation and technology transfer will continue to be fundamental pillars of the Azorean Government’s strategy for this sector, bringing research closer to the practical needs of regional winegrowers and wineries,” concluded António Ventura.