Led by the Université of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and the Atelier Sergio Rebelo, Reframing (Viti)Cultural Landscapes kicked off its research in November 2024, right after CONVIVIUM officially began, with a visit to one of the project’s focal regions: Terras de Sicó  and the Douro Valley in Portugal.

Photo 1. Reframing (Viti)Cultural Landscapes team leaders Sérgio Rebelo and Jenny Herman (center), with members of the ASR team Fatima and Marta (left), and enologist Luís Seabra (right), on a site visit to the Quinta de Adorigo. This informational visit helped the team learn about sustainable winery design, cohesive vineyard management and offered an opportunity to discuss climate change and the impact on Portugal’s wines with the Quinta’s head enologist.

Photo 2. View  from the Quinta de Adorigo of the UNESCO-protected Douro Valley cultural landscape. This winery was designed by CONVIVIUM partner (and co-lead of this subproject) Atelier Sergio Rebelo with rigorous attention to the location’s heritage and to environmental and social consciousness.

Photo 3. Architect Sérgio Rebelo in Terras de Sicó for the first field visits. The team learned about the sustainability initiatives of this small sub-region of the Beira Atlantico wine-producing area and learned that here, in a more biodiverse bubble, many vineyards were abandoned in favor of more-profitable industry. Today, these special old vines in mixed fields are being revived and hold potential to highlight the possibilities of local grapes like Baga and Maria Gomes to resist climate change while highlighting unique regional qualities. https://www.terrasdesico.pt/

Photo 4. Vineyard view from the town of Penela in the sub-region of Sicó in Bairrada. These vines belong to the Encosta da Criveira, a small, family-run winery with a dedication to local grape varieties.