ADVID, based in Vila Real, established in 2007 an annual award to attract researchers from various scientific areas for the technical, cultural and social characteristics of winemaking in the Douro Demarcated Region.

ADVID announced that the jury elected the work developed by a team of Australian researchers from CSIRO Agriculture & Food - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation as the winner.

According to the association, the "study shows that it is possible to delay the ripening and, therefore, the date of harvest, by carrying out treatments to the vine with a phytohormona (growth regulator), with no loss of yield and with little or no impact on the wine".

In places where there is greater pressure on the harvest, with problems associated with a reduced window of opportunity for harvesting at the ideal time, a delay in ripening can allow the harvest of the grapes in the desired state of ripeness, its processing and winemaking without major increases in storage capacity.

The study was coordinated by researcher Christopher Davies and its original name is "Understanding and manipulating small signalling molecules to affect the yield/flavour ('quality') nexus".

The award ceremony is on 13 December, at Regia Douro Park - Science and Technology Park, Vila Real.

Each year, the award also receives the name of a person who has been outstanding for the development of the Douro Demarcated Region.

In this edition, ADVID honoured Fernando Guedes (1930-2018), one of the first Portuguese graduate winemakers and "driver of international growth" of SOGRAPE.

The winemaker was decorated in 2017 by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, with the Grand Cross of the Order, Prince Henry the Navigator, and was, until the year 2000, in charge of the company responsible for brands such as Mateus Rosé, Sandeman and Barca Velha.