Manuel Pinheiro said the sales of vinho verde outside of Portugal reached €64 million at an average price of €2.2 to €2.3 per litre.

Pinheiro also said 45 companies will be present in the sector's biggest fair, ProWein in Dusseldorf, Germany, taking place from 17 to 19 March.

The average price per litre has risen almost 1% per year and in the past five years rose by 5%, he said, adding that thanks to white wines the region had managed to gain space in the external market.

The United States and Germany continue to be the country's main overseas markets amoung around 100 for vinho verde, with the American one standing out for the amount of money they pay and the German one for the volume purchased.

France, Canada, the United Kingdom and Japan are other countries that most buy this kind of wine.

The name vinho verde, which literally means 'green wine', has nothing to do with the colours, as it can be wite or red like any other wines, but the fact it is new and slightly fizzy