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The Douro Wine Region was founded 250 years ago, through the institution, by royal charter, of the Companhia Geral da Agricultura das Vinhas do Alto Douro (General Agricultural Company of the High Douro Vineyards) and of a system of regulation of the production and sale of its wines, the basic concept of which is still in force today.

That was the answer to the plea made to the King by the farmers of the High Douro and by the good men of the city of Porto.

The date, 1756, is very significant and could constitute a good moment for us to carefully consider. Less than one year after the earthquake that destroyed Lisbon and other areas of Portugal, the Country was going through an extraordinary effort of reconstruction. However, the superior interests of the national economy were not forgotten and a deeply innovative solution was found for the problems then faced by the Douro region.

The visionary genius of the Portuguese of the seventeen hundreds that set the bases for the delimitation and regulation of a region of the world, two centuries before the modern concepts of a Controlled Denomination of Origin, was as strong a landmark as the granite stones used at the time to define the perimeter of the vineyards intended for Port wine.

We are duty bound today to single out and applaud the notable initiative of the people of that time, who defined a lasting model for quality control and certification of the wines of the region, which was the determining point of departure for the universal recognition of the excellence of the Douro wines and, specially, Port.

For this reason I am particularly pleased to join these celebrations, in the name of the Portuguese people who are justly proud of this region and of its rich heritage, moulded throughout many centuries by the efforts and perseverance of the Douro wine growers.

The determination, the audacity and the resistance is now well in evidence, of those who, in the face of adversities, grew, and still grow the vineyards, from ancient times until now, completing that which nature has placed at their disposal, however painful and demanding.

Here, in the Douro region, man conquered from nature land which seemed condemned to uselessness. But the adverse surroundings were defeated, and man asserted his will and created a region and a magnificent landscape in perfect alliance with the environment.

It was this “dramatic dynamic sculpture” that constitutes the Winemaking High Douro that, in 2001, UNESCO registered as a World Heritage, in the category of cultural landscape, since its creation was a human feat.

It is now not just the excellence of the wine which is recognized worldwide, but also the excellence of the region, of its peoples, of its environment and of its culture.

The worldwide recognition of this colossal collective task is, simultaneously, a great responsibility for the inhabitants of the Douro region and for all the Portuguese, since it means that its preservation demands a constant human activity.

Port Wine, defined in the Royal Charter of 250 years ago as “shipping wine” due to its longevity and ability to stand long voyages, has for centuries been maintained as one of our most competitive products in world markets.

The historic importance of Port Wine in our economy, particularly in our external trade, plainly justifies that its existence be celebrated, and that the defence of the authenticity, integrity and excellence of the products and landscapes of the Region be reasserted. These are essential factors for the valuation of the activities that surround the production of Port and the Douro wines.

It is significant that this is taking place in the House of Douro, which represents the region’s wine growers, as well as the associations and cooperative wine cellars in the delimited region.

I thus salute its representatives here today and congratulate the promoters of these magnificent celebrations.

But praising these riches must not prevent us to reflect and act on what has yet to be done to develop and fructify all the Region’s strengths, converting them for the benefit of the life style and revenues of the peoples, excessively dependent upon the cyclic situation of the world wine markets.

All efforts must converge to increase the competitiveness of the sector, guaranteeing the loyalty of the competition and intensifying with national and foreign consumers, the confidence as to the origin and quality of the wines produced in the Region.

In an ever more global market forced upon all of us, liberty of trade arises as an opportunity, so long as there is capacity to innovate and to permanently adjust to the growing demands of the market.

In addition to the effort which is required from the State to create the conditions for the development of the sector in line with modern times, the economic operators have the responsibility to tender the vineyards properly, produce good wines, and to promote, market and assert these in the national and, more importantly, in the international markets.

The strategy to be followed to develop the Douro Region must always be centred in its cultural riches, its landscape and its vineyards, but cannot be restricted to wine production, however excellent it may be.

It must of course be based on the feasibility of the traditional activities and in the preservation of national resources, but it has to be enlarged to other activities, which have here all the conditions to be developed, if sustainable and innovative.

I do not believe that the people of the Douro Region fear change or will be discouraged when faced with difficulties. They have more than proved, throughout history, their strength to face what appears adverse, and their capacity to resist and persist in performing more and better.

This is the picture which we still see: a people earmarked by their will to dominate nature. A region that found out how to adapt to change, even resisting the most terrible diseases that could ever afflict vineyards. A wine created to be exported and that throughout the centuries has remained as one of the better recognized all over the world.

Port and Douro wines are more than a product. They are a culture. They are a heritage. A collective heritage that expresses the art and the know-how of a people.

And so it will have to continue. Because Portugal is also Port Wine, the precious nectar which is used to toast the great moments of people’s lives, of countries and of the World.

That it so continues in the future are my wishes.