The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry announced today the completion of the process for the creation of the Azores Vine and Wine Institute, which will be headquartered on the island of Pico to better respond to the challenges of the wine sector.
With this structure, the primarily goal is to achieve gains in terms of efficiency and effectiveness in responding to existing needs as well as to reinforce the focus on quality, authenticity and genuineness of Azorean wine.
“Besides the preparation of a study on the need for the creation of this Institute and its effects on the sector where it will operate, the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Forestry, with the support of a working group created for this purpose, has also completed the proposal for the Regional Legislative Decree establishing the Azores Vine and Wine Institute and the Regional Implementing Decree that will approve the respective statutes,” said João Ponte. The legislation will soon be sent to the Council of the Government for approval.
The government official spoke on the sidelines of the visit to a private viticulture project on the island of Faial. On the occasion, he stated that the Azores Vine and Wine Institute will have as its mission the definition, coordination and implementation of policies for the promotion and preservation of vineyards, wine and spirits produced in the Autonomous Region of the Azores. Moreover, it will also be responsible for the policies aimed at the promotion and dissemination of the respective wine products.
The Azores Vine and Wine Institute will encompass institutions linked to to the sector, namely CVR Açores - Regional Wine Commission, and the Regional Oenology Laboratory. It will hold the competences assigned to the Regional Directorate for Agriculture the Regional Directorate for Rural Development and the Agrarian Development Services for the area of viticulture.
For João Ponte, the existence of an entity that sets the basis for the competences assigned to some of the structures that currently work independently is, therefore, justified. In fact, it will provide a contribution to a more efficient use of their resources, enabling a greater integration and interconnection of all the responses that the sector needs. The promotion of regional wine products in a coordinated manner and the creation of synergies with added benefits for all agents involved in the sector are other relevant aspects to be developed by this entity.
The Regional Secretary pointed out that wine production is a highly competitive sector that, as it grows in size and gains prestige, demands increased responsibility from all agents and entities involved in the sector. Hence, it is necessary for the Region to take this step, which falls within the modernisation and optimisation process of the Regional Public Administration.
“The regional wine sector faces important challenges, as a result of the strong momentum it has gained in recent years, whether due to the rehabilitation of many hectares of vineyards or due to the emergence of new wines and wine products that have conquered markets for their uniqueness and quality," said João Ponte.
The Regional Secretary added that "the pandemic has brought us new challenges, namely at the level of sales and sustainability.” According to him, a new modern structure is needed for the entire sector in order to provide an adequate response to all the agents involved, from production to processing and even marketing.