Régua. Winemakers draw attention to the crisis in the Douro

Winemakers are demonstrating this Wednesday morning in Peso da Régua, with tractors and vans, to raise awareness about the crisis affecting the Douro Demarcated Region.

"There's no one buying our grapes. We have nothing, we have no support whatsoever, and we can no longer survive, " Paulo Guedes told Lusa news agency.

The protesters wanted to hold a slow march through the city, but the GNR blocked the way and so, at 6:30 am, they were gathering at different entrances to the city .

"They're not letting us pass," said Paulo Guedes, next to the Quatro Caminhos roundabout in Godim, Peso da Régua, who emphasized that winegrowers want to draw attention to their problems.

At the same time, traffic on Camilo de Araújo Correia Street was already closed.

The producer was speaking in Godim and explained that the producers arrived this morning in Régua, in the district of Vila Real, coming from various locations in the Douro, from Moura Morta, Oliveira, Sedielos, Vila Marim.

On the other side of the city, other farmers came from other municipalities such as São João da Pesqueira.

“No to the uprooting of the vineyard” or “Don’t let the Douro go to waste” are some of the messages they wrote on banners they carry on their vans or tractors.

Sílvia Mimoso, from Godim, came to demonstrate because they are cutting the benefit, the amount of must that each producer can allocate to the production of Port wine.

"We want to protest so they don't make the cuts. Right now, we have no way to sustain the vineyards," the farmer emphasized.