Portugal joins 70 markets sommeliers and wants to sell in quality

“Twe think of less volume and show more quality. We have a lot of quality, but we have to transmit it out to see us not as a country of cheap wines, but of quality wines”, said the president of the Association of Portuguese Scans, Tiago Paula in statements to Lusa.

The association advocates a moderate consumption of alcohol and wants to pass the cultural message of wine, that is, how and where it is produced, because wine “is also territory”.

For this purpose, about four years ago, in Japan, the best Sommelier of the World (the best sommelier in the world), a contest that will be held in Lisbon between October 11 and 17.

In this issue, in which more than 3,500 people are expected, there will be present ‘sommeliers’ from 72 markets, from North America to Asia, passing through South America.

“The idea was to bring the possibility of entering as many markets as possible,” Tiago Paula explained to Lusa.

The scans are responsible for the service of wines in the hotel, wine cellar and distribution, making not only the choice, but the harmonization of wines with dishes.

Many of the sommeliers that will arrive in Portugal are also decision makers, influencers and entrepreneurs, as well as candidates.

This is the second time that Portugal will receive the ‘Best Sommelier of the World’ in almost 50 years.

In this edition, Portugal organized several classes on topics such as the diversity of Portuguese wines and wants to bet on reducing the carbon footprint during the event.

Thus, all cork and cardboard corks will be recycled, but even the wine itself which, through a partnership with Red Wine, will have its components reused in products such as fertilizers.

The last edition took place in Paris in 2023, and brought together 68 countries and over 4,000 in-person participants, accounting for 250,000 views of the final broadcast.

Last year, the wine sector placed on the market 726 million litres of wine for domestic and export consumption, a reduction of 23 million litres compared to 2024, indicated the Vine and Wine Institute (IVV) in March.

   For this result it weighed the balance between the growth of more than six million liters in Portuguese wine (1.1%) and the reduction of 29 million liters of imported wines (18.4%).

   Of the total placed on the market, 82% was Portuguese wine and 18% imported. 

   In turn, the sales of wine with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) of mainland Portugal represented 52.3% of the total.

This will be the 18th edition of the event, which is driven by the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale, of which the Association of Portuguese Scans is a founding member.