The Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Forestry stated that 2018 will go down in the history of grape harvesting as one of the best years ever on Pico Island, both in terms of grape quantity and quality. The situation is the result of this year's good atmospheric conditions that were highly favourable to this crop.
 
"The harvest season is ending, and this year's results can only be considered extraordinary. The best expectations of winegrowers have been confirmed," said João Ponte, who spoke the end of a meeting with the Board of Pico Winery Cooperative.
 
The government official said that this cooperative has received 350 tonnes of grapes so far, when it only received 100 tonnes in 2017, representing a growth of 250%.
 
"It is true that, from a climate standpoint, we have had a very favourable year, but these results are mainly due to the entrepreneurial capacity of Pico winegrowers. They have seized the opportunities created under the VITIS programme, combining it with the experience acquired in this area and their great commitment and dedication to this crop," said João Ponte.
 
Regarding the VITIS Community programme for the restructuring and conversion of vineyards, João Ponte revealed that the amount of 2.4 million Euros has already been paid to Azorean winegrowers in the first seven months of this year.
 
Since 2014, 470 projects have been approved under VITIS, covering an area of 765 hectares of vineyards, with an investment of 20.3 million Euros. In this regard, the island of Pico registers the highest figures in the entire region, representing 94% of the total number of applications submitted.
 
"These indicators evidence the dynamics and vigour of the wine sector in the Region, with special emphasis on the island of Pico, thus projecting a very promising future for this sector," said João Ponte.
 
However, the dynamics of the wine sector is not solely visible on Pico and, in this context, the government official highlighted the case of Faial, where a project was approved Wednesday under sub-measure 4.2 of PRORURAL + programme. It is aimed at the creation of a production unit for the production, processing and packaging of white wine, corresponding to a proposed investment of half a million Euros.
 
João Ponte also stated that this project on Faial Island includes the creation of 19 jobs: two permanent and 17 temporary jobs.
 
The Regional Secretary highlighted the fact that Azorean wines are increasingly regarded as a product of excellence and have achieved great recognition due to the innovation and training of their producers.
 
"The strategy for the wine sector has been defined, the results are quite positive and there is a growing interest in producing wine in the Azores," the government official stressed, adding that the sector is generating wealth, creating jobs and contributing to the recovery of abandoned land.