Source: Ludwig von Mises Institute
by Paulo Ferreira
“It is no secret that the demographic exodus from the Douro is widespread and will continue to plague the region, with declining birth rates and the lack of economic attractiveness for both workers and investors. It is little wonder, then, that people receive some of the lowest wages in the country. Port wine is the heart and soul of the nation’s wine sector, yet the laws regulating it end up harming, rather than benefiting, small wine producers …. We do not possess property; it is regulated by the IVDP, established in 1933. Owners are not only prohibited from producing the wine of their choice but also from deciding the volume they produce, the price at which they can sell their products, the way they store and vinify according to protocols, and the list goes on.” (11/24/25)