The Regional Director for Agriculture stated today on Pico that the Regional Oenology Laboratory (LRE) and the accreditation process of laboratory procedures, which is about to be concluded, fall under the strategy set by the Regional Government for the wine sector.

 "The laboratory and its accreditation represent part of the strategy defined by the Regional Government to support the growth of viticulture in our Region," said Fernando Sousa. The government official spoke on the sidelines of the first of four guided tours of the Open Days for producers and local population, an initiative promoted by LRE.

 The Regional Director stressed that this initiative "aims to bring LRE winemakers closer by showing them how they can improve the quality of their wines through the results obtained in the Laboratory."

 On the other hand, the government official highlighted the "technical support provided by technicians, who will be able to go to the vineyards and wineries of producers."

 This year, the Government has several planned actions to disseminate the work conducted by LRE, including the provision of direct information to producers, awareness-raising-actions, distribution of flyers and the possibility of accessing laboratory areas.

 The Regional Laboratory under the administration of the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and the Environment, through the Regional Directorate for the Environment, supports the production sector by providing several services in the field of oenology, viticulture and vineyard protection.

 This infrastructure at the service of the Azorean wine industry is intended to promote the quality of wine produced in the Azores, using modern equipment and the techniques.

 The work conducted by LRE is essentially focused on the physical and chemical analysis of wine, grapes and must as well as on the determination of the alcohol content spirits and liqueurs.