Wines of Alentejo's exports to Brazil, which occupies the "very first place" in foreign markets for the region, "doubled in value" between 2016 and 2019, revealed today the Alentejo Regional Winegrowing Commission (CVRA).

"In the last four years, from 2016 to 2019, we have doubled exports in value to Brazil", as well as "we sell a little more in volume", revealed today Maria Amélia Vaz da Silva, from CVRA.

Referring to the most recent data released by the National Statistics Institute (INE), the same person in charge, who is in charge of the Brazilian market at CVRA, indicated that, last year, Alentejo sold "around 12.5 million euros euros "of wine for that country.

"Brazil occupies the very first place in the exports of Alentejo wines and, in 2019, was responsible for a little more than 20% of the total value" of the wines that the region sold abroad, he said.

In terms of volume, in which Brazil "also occupies the first place" in the 'ranking' of exports, last year "2.6 million liters" of wine from the region left for Brazilian territory, he said.

"It is a considerable amount, it is a good percentage of our exports in terms of volume, around 15%", he said, stressing that these volume sales in Brazil, last year, represent "almost double" those registered in the country that came in 2nd place, Poland.

For Maria Amélia Vaz da Silva, the evolution of wine exports from the region to Brazil, in the last four years, means that the Alentejo is "selling a little more in volume, but above all selling much better".

"Producers are gaining confidence, exports are being consolidated and even on the part of the consumer there is today greater knowledge in relation to Portuguese wines, which also allows prices to rise a little", because before they were "low in comparison with those of countries like France or Spain ", and" this is what has been happening ", he argued.

In Brazil, "there is a job that has been done by producers and importers and there is a taste of the Brazilian people for Alentejo Wines", not least because "gastronomy ends up being similar in most states", which constitutes " added value for consumption "of this product from this Portuguese region, he said.

This Friday, in Évora, after a written test and another practice, the winner of the contest "The Best Wines of Alentejo Sommelier in Brazil" will be elected, promoted annually by CVRA.

Throughout this week, the eight Brazilian sommeliers finalists in this initiative, which will be in its 7th edition, have been in the region to participate in training sessions, visits and wine tastings in different estates and wineries and contacts with producers and winemakers. .

"The Brazilian market remains a priority for us, especially in terms of exports, and, therefore, this initiative allows us to have the best ambassadors for Alentejo wines in a large country such as Brazil", stressed the president of CVRA , Francisco Mateus.

Wines of Alentejo's exports continue to more than 75 countries. In terms of value, the first five countries are Brazil, Switzerland, Angola, the United States and Poland. In volume, behind Brazil, Poland, the United States, Angola and France appear, revealed Maria Amélia Vaz da Silva.