Reference Regions

Reference Regions » Maciço Noroeste (Portugal)

Maciço Noroeste (Portugal)

Description of the Reference Region

The mountainous region of Maçico Noroeste is made up of deep valleys and steep slopes.

As part of the Maçico Noroeste, in Portugal, the Douro region includes most of the Douro Demarcated Region (DDR), the most important wine-producing area, and also the oldest in the world, where Porto wine is produced. It is rich in biodiversity, and many of the species are endemic or rare. The climate conditions are characterised by warm-temperate of Mediterranean type. The Alto Douro was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.

Selected Value Chain

The selected value chain (VC) is Douro wine.

Maciço Noroeste represents a specific wine region, in the inner valley, that is facing challenges in the different components: agricultural and ecosystem management in the vineyard; natural, historic and cultural heritage; tourism; art and literature; alongside problematic accessibility and a very institutional framework.

Climate change and its unpredictability is a major challenge as it could facilitate viticulture development in the higher areas, but at the same time, this implies different techniques and knowledge needs.

From the socio-economic point of view the main challenge is the decrease of resident population, wherein especially young and qualified people still migrate to other areas.

Multi-Actor Platform (MAP) members

The Multi-Actor Platform includes different actors, such as vine and wine producers of different sizes and types, other farming actors, local cultural associations, public authorities, innovation brokers, tourist companies, researchers and regional business actors as well as interest groups.