The Alentejo region is predicted to have an increase of 5% to 10% in wine production, meaning it could produce between 115 to 120 million litres this year.
For the past 20 years, the Alentejo Regional Wine Commission (ARWC) has been using pollen forecasting through a partnership with University of Porto’s Faculty of Sciences in order to aid in forecasting the annual yield of wine. This year’s forecast, achieved by collecting pollen in the flowering stage, points to a noticeable rise in production.
If the forecast is correct, the region could end up producing between 115 and 120 million litres of wine, higher than the average of the last five years, which was 110 million.
Francisco Mateus, president of AWRC, points out that “forecasting is an essential tool for calculating stock levels, and the responsiveness to market needs”, but added that “weather will dictate the amount of grapes that will be produced in the Alentejo”.
The region, which is among the largest in Portugal, with approximately 56000 acres of vineyards, is already one of the major producers in the country, and it is expected that the harvest operations will be taking place until the end of September.
