The Charter is a statement of principles that demonstrates the nominating community’s commitment to safeguarding the cultural element it seeks to have inscribed.
All those who feel a deep connection to the traditions of Madeira Wine and are devoted to their preservation form part of the Madeira Wine Heritage Community, as set out in the document entitled Charter for the Safeguarding of Madeira Wine Traditions. At the heart of this nomination lies the desire to gather this transnational collective in a shared commitment to honour and protect this rich cultural legacy.
This Charter, as referred to in UNESCO frameworks, constitutes a key component of the nomination. It functions as a declaration of principles, outlining the commitment of the community submitting the nomination to ensuring the viability of the cultural element proposed for inscription. A draft version of this document was made available in advance to a broad range of stakeholders, including the competent bodies of the Regional Government, municipal and parish councils, community centres, and other non-profit cultural and recreational organisations within the Autonomous Region of Madeira and beyond.
All stakeholders were given the opportunity to review the content, request clarifications, and propose amendments or additions. On 14 December 2024, the Charter was subject to public discussion.
"The success of the nomination depends largely on the active engagement of all sectors of the region. The panel of participants is intended to be interdisciplinary, intersectoral, and open to all members of the Madeira Wine Heritage Community, including the vine growers themselves. The content of the interviews conducted in recent months reveals a prevailing sense of low self-esteem among many producers, as well as a shared perception of limited visibility and, consequently, a low social recognition of their work. These concerns prompted the organisation of a meeting at the Civic Centre of Estreito de Câmara de Lobos, a parish of Madeira that proudly refers to itself as the 'Land of Wine', in partnership with the Municipality of Câmara de Lobos. This is also where the Confraria Enogastronómica da Madeira—a committed partner since the early stages of the process—is based.
On that day, the final version of the Charter was presented for discussion and could be ratified by those in attendance—either in person or online—at the conclusion of the meeting.
Those who were unable to attend the event are invited to endorse the Charter by completing the form available here.
English 
Portuguese