The southern Portuguese city of Baixo Alentejo has been recognised as the European Wine City for 2026.
The announcement, made at an event in Brussels on Wednesday, recognises its wine growing heritage stretching back many years.
Awarded by RECEVIN, the title celebrates regions that combine excellence in winemaking with sustainable tourism, cultural heritage, and innovation. It highlights the vital role of wine in Europe’s economy and the growing importance of enotourism as a bridge between tradition and modernity.
In Baixo Alentejo, wine is a symbol of authenticity and community, said Antonio Bota, president of CIMBAL, the local Intermunicipal Council.
Speaking at the event, he said the award was important in a region where an estimated one in four the population are connected to the wine sector.
The area has a wine making history dating back 2,000 years but remains relatively unknown outside of Portugal for its wines including “talha” wine produced from natural methods of wine making. The region, though, has over 500 wine growers cultivating some 6,000 hectares of land.
He said that 13 municipalities will take part in the Wine City project across five themes: arts, heritage, science, sport and wine on the streets.
“This is a good chance to showcase not just our wines but our heritage and culture,” he said.
The region will showcase how wine culture can inspire sustainable growth and connect people across Europe, he said.
“We want to share the quality of our wines with others. People are often surprised by the range and variety of our grapes and wines. But this aware is not just about wine: it is also a way of promoting local tourism,”added Bota, whose city he represents as mayor is some 150km from the sea.”
He also spoke of the impact of climate change on wine growing, saying “this is a big problem. It is a nightmare”.
“The industry is going through a crisis but wine remains a great product.”
Another speaker was Luis Encarnacao, president of the Association of Portuguese Wine Municipalities, who said the wine sector supported nearly 170,000 jobs in the country and generates some €10bn for the Portuguese economy, representing 2.7percent of its GDP.
Portugal, he added, is now placed in the world’s top ten of wine exporters, covering 40 markets and wine tourism had become a real success story.
“In Portugal wine is a lot more than a drink to enjoy. It is a living expression of the landscape,” he said. “This award is a powerful instrument for projecting this region and its exceptional wines.”
The Wine City event currently comprises Portugal, Italy and Spain, three of the world’s major wine producers, said Rosa Melchor, of the European Network of Wine Cities.
For the 2026 edition, Baixo Alentejo faced competition from two other candidates: the Algarve and the Azores.
A total of 150 mayors from different Portuguese towns and cities voted and Baixo Alentejo was adjudged the winner.
The delegation from Portugal later held a debate on the award with MEPs in the European parliament.
