50 Port anD the Douro
Portugal’s accession to the European Community (now European Union) in 1986
accelerated the pace of change. In June of the same year, independent growers were
permitted to export their wines directly from the Douro without them having to pass
through the entreposto at Vila Nova de Gaia. For the first time for nearly sixty years
single quintas were now permitted to sell Port directly into export markets. By 2004 there
were over sixty productores-engarafadores (producer-bottlers) registered with the IVDP
(including eleven co-operatives), but their share of Port sales remained small at under 2
per cent. Taking advantage of the legislation in reverse, one prominent shipper, Quinta do
Noval, relinquished its lodges in Gaia and moved lock, stock and barrel to new purpose-
built armazéns in the Douro.
Another important consequence of Portugal’s membership of the European Union was
the liberalisation of the distribution of the grape spirit or aguardente used to fortify Port,
which continued to be a state monopoly until 1990. Shippers are now free to purchase
aguardente on the open market with the result that the overall quality has improved
markedly (see page 138).
Since Portugal joined the European Union, huge amounts of capital have been
invested in the country’s infrastructure, with impressive new mountain-breaching roads
penetrating inland from the towns and cities on the coast. A new motorway from Oporto
has been under construction since 1995, progressively cutting the journey time to the
Douro. When the tunnel currently under construction underneath the Serra do Marão
finally opens, it will mean that Pinhão will be an easy commute from the shippers’ lodges
in Vila Nova de Gaia. Another fast road is also being built to connect the Cima Corgo
and Douro Superior.