Support of 12 million for the Douro will be paid according to the quantity of grapes

O The Ministry of Agriculture and Mar today explains, in a statement, some of the rules for the allocation of exceptional support and it is clear that the ordinance establishing the rules for access to the measure has already been signed by the Minister of Agriculture and sent for publication in Diário da República (DR).

The Government approved on 4 September, in the Council of Ministers, an exception scheme, with an overall allocation of 12 million euros, to ensure income support for Douro wine growers who, due to current market difficulties, cannot sell all their grapes in the 2026-2027 campaign.

The amount, explains the ministry, will be paid directly by the IVDP depending on the quantity of grapes per spoon.

The amount allocated will be calculated by comparing the production declared in 2026 with the average production of each wine grower in the previous five years, with the concession limited to EUR 1,125 per hectare.

Viticulturers shall identify the parcels covered in the application and keep the grapes in the vineyard until the IVDP has verified them and the support shall be paid at once after on-the-spot checks.

In the press release, the Ministry explains that this exception scheme “includes a framework of measures to normalise the wine sector, safeguard economic, social and environmental sustainability, and protect producers and cultural and landscape heritage of the Durian region”.

The problems of the disposal of grapes worsened this year in the Douro. There are winegrowers who complain that they do not have buyers, others who only sell the grapes of the benefit, that is, the quantity of must that each can allocate for the production of Port, and they also complain about the low price at which the grape is paid.

On the other hand, operators warn of the full ‘stocks’ and breaks in wine sales.