The wine industry must prioritize adaptation to changes and continuously develop its technological toolkit, State Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Márton Nobilis stated at the Winery of the Year award ceremony in Villány, according to the Ministry’s press release on Thursday.
At the event the State Secretary affirmed that the government and the Ministry of Agriculture remain committed to supporting the sector,
with a particular focus on innovation and promoting sustainable viticulture and winemaking practices.
Through new wine law regulations and agricultural subsidies, winemakers have the opportunity to strengthen their position in the international market and continue to contribute to enhancing Hungary’s reputation in the global wine industry, the statement said.
Márton Nobilis noted that the consequences of climate change are increasingly being felt, with prolonged droughts and heatwaves exerting growing pressure on producers. These weather anomalies not only affect the quantity of the harvest but also the quality of the grapes, necessitating new approaches from industry participants.
He added that despite the drought conditions, the harvest quantity is expected to be higher than last year, and both quantity and quality are anticipated to be good this year. Industry organizations and major buyers are optimistic, and based on preliminary data, an increase in demand for grapes is expected, according to the report.
The State Secretary also pointed out that although the sector’s stakeholders are looking to the future with optimism,
they are aware that climate change presents new challenges in the long term.
He emphasized that the government is providing all necessary support, including the allocation of a total of 111.9 million Euros for various initiatives under the Wine Sector Programme, part of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan’s first pillar for the 2024–2027 period. This includes restructuring support for vineyards, which can be claimed with up to 75 per cent intensity in World Heritage areas. Additionally, grants are available for winery investments, including the procurement of winemaking machinery and technological equipment.
He explained that the aim of these winery investments is to improve the efficiency of grape processing and winemaking, as well as to foster innovation. To this end, efforts are being made to introduce new technologies and procedures that could contribute to the development of new markets and increased production efficiency, the Ministry of Agriculture reported.
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