JPP deputies visited the Estreito Grape Harvest Festival, hearing from winemakers about the sector's challenges. The party reiterated its stance that the price paid for Tinta Negra should be higher, recalling its 2023 denunciation that nominal prices for producers had remained unchanged for 30 years. While welcoming the 20-cent per kilo increase announced by the Regional Government, JPP believes this reinforcement, though necessary, does not resolve structural issues or the historical devaluation of the grape variety.
Official data shows a 31.1% drop in Tinta Negra production between the 2023 and 2025 harvests, and a 10% decrease in registered winegrowers. JPP warns that a better production year predicted for 2026 does not erase the accumulated decline nor guarantee the long-term sustainability of viticulture.
Miguel Ganança of JPP argues the focus should be on a multi-year strategy for viticulture, preparing the region for climate change and addressing issues like income, labor, climate adaptation, land access, and technical assistance. The party emphasizes that valuing Tinta Negra is crucial for protecting Madeira Wine, the landscape, and the territory, warning that vineyard abandonment leads to loss of income, landscape, and managed land.
