«In 1999 we had ten members, currently we have more than 70, it was a great journey that was made»
Q – You’ve been reappointed for a third term as president of the Beira Interior Regional Wine Commission – what can we expect next?A – Naturally, I feel honoured by the trust shown by the council members who elected this board for a third term. We’ll do our best. We’ll continue promoting Beira Interior wines both in Portugal and abroad, and we’ll further strengthen our focus on wine tourism, which is currently growing among wine producers everywhere, as it’s also a way of generating wealth for the region. That’s our main goal.
Q – How is the Beira Interior Wine Village project, the CVRBI’s wine-tourism initiative, progressing?A – It’s being developed with the Intermunicipal Communities of Beiras e Serra da Estrela and Beira Baixa, and at this stage we already have a website with more than 30 experiences across the region, where visitors can tour wineries, find accommodation, restaurants, places to visit, and so on. We’ve defined four main pillars for organising these experiences: gastronomy and wine; heritage and culture; leisure; and well-being. These experiences are important because they cater to different audiences – young couples, families with small children – and we’ve designed them to appeal to all kinds of visitors, since our aim is for people to stay here, eat here, sleep here, and buy local products. We’re now moving into a capacity-building phase for tourism-office staff from the municipalities, the Intermunicipal Communities and the CVRBI itself, and later we’ll hold training sessions – one in Guarda and another in Castelo Branco – aimed more specifically at businesses such as hotels, restaurants and tourism-activity companies, because it’s important that people know how to explain what the Beira Interior Wine Village project is.
Q – Is it certain that the project will be completed during the term that’s now beginning?A – Absolutely, as long as everything goes well. It’s a project that brings together the two Intermunicipal Communities, and the local elections delayed its development a little, but things are now picking up pace again. I believe we’re on the right track and we’ll do our very best to help generate wealth in our region. Further ahead, we’ll hold a joint press conference with the Intermunicipal Communities involved to explain the project in more detail, but we don’t want to put the cart before the horse – first we need to train people, and each tourism office will have information about the Beira Interior Wine Villages: where visitors can go and what experiences they can enjoy. Right now, we’re doing work that’s less visible, but essential to make sure everything flows the way we intend.
Q – You’ve been leading the Beira Interior Regional Wine Commission for six years, but you’ve been part of the organisation for more than twenty. What’s changed since then?A – Since 1999, when I joined, almost everything has changed. At that time it was a very small institution – we had ten members, five cooperatives and four or five independent producers. Today we have more than 70 members; it’s completely different. It’s been a long journey. Of course, when we look back, we see ups and downs, as in any project, but I believe everyone who has taken part over these past 27 years should feel proud. The Beira Interior Regional Wine Commission has gained visibility, and the wines of Beira Interior also enjoy much greater recognition than they once did. When I first arrived, even people here in the region barely knew their own wines, never mind anyone from outside. It’s been a difficult journey, because we’re surrounded by well-known regions – Douro, Dão, Alentejo – but we’ve steadily made our way. Bit by bit, we’ve gained visibility and recognition for our wines, both in Portugal and abroad, and that’s what drives us.
Q – How are wine production and exports doing in our region at the moment?A – In the domestic market, the wines from our region are now found almost everywhere. Abroad, we’re present in the United States, Brazil and China, and we’ve been investing in new markets such as South Korea and Taiwan, while also maintaining our presence in Europe – France, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. We’ve diversified our markets because we believe it’s the right approach. For example, the political situation in the United States has created some instability for us, so in recent years we’ve worked to broaden our market base to ensure greater security. We’re exporting to new countries to strengthen our position, and we’ve made a major effort to be present at most of the major international trade fairs. This month we were in Germany, in October we’ll be in Brazil, and in November we’ll attend a fair in South Korea. We’re also organising inbound missions – bringing importers from various markets to our region. This gives our producers the opportunity, and the right conditions, to export their wines, which offer both quality and competitive prices.
FACE TO FACE: An interview with Rodolfo Queirós, re-elected president of the CVRBI boardSource: Jornal o Interior, 28 February 2026
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