For years, Portuguese winegrowers have been reporting a progression of drought in connection with climate change and the associated new challenges in viticulture. The 2022 growing season was no exception. At the Dow's weather station at Quinta do Bomfim, which belongs to the Symington port wine dynasty, just 114 millimetres of precipitation were recorded from January to July 2022 – this is the quantity that usually falls there in a single winter month. In the village of Pinhão in the same region, the mercury rose to a record high for the month of July: 47 degrees Celsius were measured. Due to the drought and heat, the 2022 harvest in the Douro Valley also began historically early. As early as August, grapes were foot trodden and crushed in the lagares of Quinta do Vesuvio - never before has this taken place earlier in the year at the centuries-old winery.

While the quantities are small, as expected, the producers are pleased with the quality of the wines. The Douro Boys winegrowers' group, for example, reported that the proportion of dried berries was surprisingly small and that the wines have great freshness and good structure. The drought also caused problems in the other wine regions of the country, even though it ensured that the emergence of diseases and pests was largely absent. Overall, the 2022 harvest in Portugal is expected to be around nine per cent smaller than in the previous year, with losses averaging 20 percent in regions such as Douro or Lisbon. The northern, wetter region of Minho – home of Vinho Verde – on the other hand, could increase production by ten percent.

The Alentejo region, which is responsible for about one third of Portugal's wine production, also recorded a slight decline in harvest volume as well as heat-related problems such as sunburn. In terms of quality, however, the wines from the Alentejo are quite satisfactory with their usual plump fruit and soft structure.