The traditional grape harvest that marks the Harvest Festival took place this year in a different setting than usual. The usual agricultural land was replaced by a construction site, where a new private housing development will emerge.
This change reflects the growing real estate pressure on vineyard soils in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, with land traditionally devoted to vineyards being converted for residential purposes.
The president of the Regional Government, Miguel Albuquerque, was confronted by journalists about this reality and about the loss of space for vineyards. The official refused alarmist scenarios and minimized the situation, not acknowledging the seriousness of the problem pointed out by the media.
