The oldest historic references known about the existence of wine on the Vinho Verde Demarcated Region are from the roman Séneca, philosopher, from Plínio, a naturalist, and Dominiciano legislation from years 96-51.

Donation of a piece of land with wine production to the Convento de Alpendurada, Marco de Canaveses.

Donation of Ordonho II, King of Leão, to the church of S. Tiago, in Correlhã, Ponte de Lima.

Several donations of Mumadona Dias, among which a property with "enforcado" vineyards.

Register of D. Afonso I to the men of Bouças: "the monarch intended and hereby declares that they plant vines, exempting them from any charge in the first five years counted after plantation and fixing after that period the charge of one sixth of the harvested wine" (in Coelho da Rocha, Ensaio sobre a Legislação Portuguesa,1843).

Register of D. Afonso III that grants the ownership of some vines to the inhabitants of Monção.

Complaint in the courts of Porto: "The complainers said they had great loss with the cut of their trees by the inhabitants of Oporto and Gaia because the main thing from the wine are the vines and elms. The carpinters from above the Douro cut trees without saving trees that have vines even if they produce a lot of wine" (in António Cruz, Notas sobre a cultura do vinho no Vale do Ave, 1983).

Since this year the Porto Town Hall fixed the selling prices of wine – fermented and Verdes – (Sic) and this year was of 4 and 3 reis per quarter (quartilho) for white and red respectively.

Since this year until 1899, very seldom the Vinho Verde prices are the same or higher than the fermented wines (maduro).

D. João V: "As the Vinho Verde produced in the Minho region are of a lesser reputation I have ordered that only three reis per canada (measure of wine) was paid for those called "enforcado" and grow on trees, without culture; however those cultivated in order to be verdes, their masters wich is to be exempt of the five reis per canada; for the moment all wine that is cultivated must pay the five reis" (in Colecção de Legislação Fiscal contendo o Regimento, Leis, Decretos, Portarias, etc., related to the tax called Real d’Água, Dr. António T. Magalhães, 1880).

The Agriculture and Trade Public Society of the Minho Province was founded in Viana do Castelo. Together with D. Maria I insurged against the monopoly detained by the «Real Companhia das Vinhas do Alto Douro», and tried to create a society of intervention and regulation of the wine market of this region. "This was a bold initiative but serious with which in the last quarter of the 18th Century good men and traders from the village of Viana tried to value the regional wines paying homage to passed generations who tried founding a regional organism, in a certain way, their precursor" (Amândio Galhano).

Permit of D. Maria I.

John Croft in «A treatise on the wines of Portugal», York, Second edition, refers the first exports of Portuguese wines to England, probably from Monção and shipped from the port of Viana do Castelo.

The law (stated on the 10th article of the Carta de Lei of 18th September 1908 and then, through article 19th of the Decree of 1st October of the same year) establishes the demarcation of different types of wines by region with rigidly defined borders. The Vinho Verde Demarcated Region is created and is very different from the other wine producing regions. A paragraph in the law said: "The demarcation of the Vinho Verdes can be altered as a result of a complaint from a municipal-council or agricultural union by decree published in the Diario do Governo, with insertion of the opinion of the Conselho Superior de Agricultura".
The demarcated region was divided, at the time, into five sub-regions according to its culture, types of wine, encepamento and trellising methods. They were: Monção, Lima, Amarante, Basto and Braga.

The Agricultural Federation Union of the North of Portugal (Federação dos Sindicatos Agrícolas do Norte de Portugal) presents a project for the "production and trade regulation of the Vinhos Verdes". The Federation was at the time, the organized form of farming – the Agricultural unions correspond to the Cooperatives nowadays.

In the Agriculture Congress in Braga, a thesis by the Count of Azevedo (President of the Union Federation) is presented to the farmers, under the title: "Production and Vinho Verde Trade Regulation".

Published the Decree n. º 12.866, of 10th December 1926, Diário do Governo, 1st Series, regulation is published 19, which confirms the borders of the demarcated region although with slight changes regarding its area (from what was established in 1908) and the creation of another sub-region: Penafiel.
The Regulamento da Produção e Comércio dos Vinhos Verdes (Production and Vinho Verde Trade Regulation) sanctions the demarcated region’s statutes, defines its geographical borders, characterizes its wines, defines production rules, production, origin and trade certificates and creates the Comissão de Viticultura da Região dos Vinhos Verde (CVRVV) as interprofessional entity with representants of the farmers and traders.

The Decree nº 16.684, published on the Diário do Governo, 1ª Série, of 2nd April, replaces Decree nº 12.866, where the Demarcated Region is defined as well as what must be understood as Vinho Verde:"Only those wines that are a result of must fermentation of fresh, regional, ripe grapes can be considered Vinho Verde. "Only these grapes and in these conditions are capable of generating that wine that has unique characteristics worldwide and that was defined by law at the time of the Regional Demarcation".
Alrhough highly argued, the Decree nº 16.684 is still effective and is the basic diploma that rules the Vinho Verdes production and trade.

Published the Law nº 1891, of 23rd March that interrupts, temporarily, the electing process of the Executive Commission.
The Portaria nº 8303/35, of 3rd December, that defined the analytical characteristics of the Vinho Verde for export is published.
Definite instalations of the CVRVV Headquarters in the Rua da Restauração, in the city of Porto. The building is of architectural interest dated mid 19th Century and located in the borders of the recently classified "Zona Histórica do Porto". Built in 1871 by Count Silva Monteiro, an illustrious Brazilian who settled in this city after leaving Brazil.
Pinho Leal considered it a "prince-like home" and was one of the main meeting places among the Porto High Society in the last quarter of the 19th Century.
The Portaria n. º 8.303, of 3rd December defines the analytical characteristics of the Vinho Verde for export.

Published the Portaria n.º 8596, of 15th January that defines the Vinho Verde’s analytical characteristics for internal consumption. At the end of the fifties, about 90% of the production was still consumed within the region. The remaining 10% was for export.

Published the Decreto-Lei nº 35.846, of 2nd September, regarding the generality of the Portuguese wines. Parts of the decree refer in particular to the Vinho Verde

The biggest landmark for this region, in a worldwide scale, was the acceptance of the vindicating report on the Vinho Verde Denomination of Origin presented to OIV – Office International de la Vigne et du Vin –, in Paris

Developed the set-up programme of 21 wineries (Adegas Cooperativas) that currently exist in the Region, under the inspiration and sponsorship of the CVRVV.

Created a portaria that indicated the varieties, per county and divided in two groups: the "mandatory" and the "suggested".

Creation of the Communication and Promotion Plan (Plano de Propaganda e Fomento) of 21 cooperative wineries in the region (Ministry of Economy dispatch, 10th September).

Iinauguration og the wineries in Braga and Lousada. This plan was completed after 18 years and the results exceeded the expectations.

The Origin Seal (Selo de Origem) was created through Decree n. º 42.590, of 16th October. This was a sort of documentation used as a prize or award for perfect products, i.e., a way of safeguarding the origin and quality of the Vinho Verde. Publication of the respective regulation through Decree n. º 43.067, of 12th July.

Building of instalations for destilations and stockage of Wines and Wine Spirits (Aguardentes) by the CVRVV. These installations worked as a support to production (in case of production excess) and had a stockage capacity of 33.880 HL of wine, 17.830 HL of aguardente and still with a destilling capacity of 1.800 to 2.250 HL per day.

Recognition of the International registry of the Denomination of Origin in Geneva, by the Worldwide Intellectual Property Organization (OMPI - Organização Mundial da Propriedade Intelectual). This was the culmination of the efforts spent to defend the Vinho Verdes’ genuine character and type and had been desired for several generations of viticulturists from this region. From that moment onwards the designation Vinho Verde became (under international law) of exclusive use to the wines with those unique characteristics due to its geographical area (with human and natural factors).

Published the Decree nº 400/83, of 13th October on the Diário da República, Iª Série, of 9th November, which creates the Tasters Chamber of the CVRVV (Câmara de Provadores da CVRVV). This is the responsible entity for consecrating the wine’s originality by doing the organoleptic tasting, the convenient emphasis and defence of the wine.

A major added value was the recognition of a statute for products with Denomination of Origin for the Wine Spirit’s and Lees Brandy (Aguardentes Vínica e Bagaceira) produced in this Demarcated Region. This contributed for the diversification of quality wine products through Decree Law Decree n.º 39/84 dated 5th January and published on 2nd February.

The Law "Lei-Quadro das Regiões Demarcadas Vitivinícolas", is promulgated (Law n. º 8/85, of 4th June ) as a result of Portugal’s entry in the EEC. This law determines the reformulation of the statutes of the Demarcated regions and the organic structures of the respective Winegrowing Commissions. One of the imposed measures was that producers with vineyards bigger than 100 vines (pés) were obliged to declare all the vines in order to receive the viticulturist’s card (DL n. º 504-I/85, of 30th of December, complemented by the Portaria n. º 125/86, of 2nd April). The transition for the application of the new EEC regulation in Portugal in the winegrowing sector would be done by phases (DL n.º 517/85, 31st December; Adhesion Agreement - Acordo de Adesão). The Vinho Verde’s production and trade taxes are updated (DL nº 303/85, of 29/7). The transition by phases of the application of the EU regulations, for the wine growing sector in Portugal is defined (DL nº 517/85, of 31st December; Adhesion Agreement - Acordo de Adesão). In April another Portaria is published that approves a new variety list for the region. The varieties were divided in “recommended” and “authorized” and fixed the minimum percentages for the former and maximum for the latter.

Created the EVAG - Estação Vitivinícola Amândio Galhano , in Arcos de Valdevez – with the goal of developing Region’s wine growing. The Wine Growing Station is an experimental unit that intends to provide answers to viticulturist’s problems. Among the jobs in progress within viticulture are: Clone selection of recommended varieties from the Vinho Verde Demarcated Region; New vine trellising system study; Graft (porta-enxerto) study; Nutrition and vine fertilization study; Setting-up vines on slopes and fenology and regional varieties culture adaptation study.

The Decret Decreto-Lei n. º 104/87, of 6th March, transformed The legal nature and the organic structure of the CVRVV. . It became a Regional Association, Collective Entity of Private Law and Public Utility. It gained a General Council with equal representation of Production and Trade. Its Executive Commission is elected by the General Council, with the exception of the President whose nomination is in charge of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fishing and Food. In 1987 the CVRVV’s statutes were published.

The CVRVV is enrolled as a vivarium in the Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária.
The CVRVV’s Laboratory is officially recognized by the Portaria n.º 534/88, 9th August.
The Decreto-Lei n.º 350/88, 30th September refers that the regulating legislation of the Vinho Verde Demarcated Region is still effective.

Considering the relevant public utility services provided by the CVR they are exempt of Income tax payment (IRC) except regarding deposit interests and other capital revenues (DL 416/89, de 30/11).

The Vinho Verde Demarcated Region’s Statutes (Estatutos da Região Demarcada dos Vinhos Verdes - RDVV), were approved by the Decreto-Lei n.º 10/92, of 3rd February. These statutes mandatorily defined: the region’s geographical delimitation, the soils nature, the “encepamento” (recommended and authorized varieties and their percentages), the cultivation practices, the vine trellising system (“sistemas de condução”), the vinification methods and practices, the minimum natural alcoholic level, the yields per hectare, the oenological practices and the chemical and organoleptic characteristics of the region’s products. This legal diploma confirmed the acknowledgement of the six sub-regions that produced wine with the designation of the Controlled Denomination of Origin “Vinho Verde” (Denominação de Origem Controlada “Vinho Verde”) which had been previously consecrated.
The new statutes of the Vinho Verde Demarcated Region include in annex a list of the “recommended” and “authorized” varieties for the region. Among the “recommended” varieties the “Batoca” was considered; in the red “recommended” varieties the Padeiro-de-Basto (also known as Tinto-Cão” was included. The Decreto-Lei n.º 10/92 states on article 60, that only the white and red wines with varieties refered to in the Annex 11 of this diploma (“recommended” and “authorized”) can use the denomination of origin “Vinho Verde”. Also the sub-region denomination and toponyms can only be considered as white and red wine from the “recommended” and “authorized” stated on Annex 11 in the consition that the povoamento respect a minimum percentage of 75% of the total encepamento in the “recommended” varieties and maximum of 25% in the case of the “authorized” varieties.
The CVRVV elaborated, in the sphere of its disciplinatory competence, the Internal Regulation of Vinho Verde Labelling (Regulamento Interno da Rotulagem de Vinho Verde) approved by the General Council on 25th June and effective on 1st July of the same year with the objective of clarify and complement the existing norms for Vinho Verde labelling.

Through Portaria n.º 112/93, of 30th January, all the production conditions, cultivation practices, production methods and characteristics of the Regional Wines «Rios do Minho», were defined. This intended to guarantee the continuos improvement quality and enhance the wine’s prestige.
The General Council of the CVRVV aproves the 1st revision of the Best Wines Competion Regulation ajusting it to the current reality and which became effective on the 97 competitions. Therefore, bottled wines are accepted in the competition as long as they fulfil the conditions stated in the new regulation.

Through Portaria n.º 1202/97, of 28th November some changes are introduced to Portaria n.º 112/93, such as the name of the geographical indication that changes from Vinho Regional «Rios do Minho» para Vinho Regional «Minho».
On 20th November is published the Aviso n.º 9391/97, published on the Diário da República (II Série) where , by the Instituto da Vinha e do Vinho’s President (and confirmed by the Secretary of State of Food and Agriculture), the CVRVV is recognized as responsible entity for control and certification of the Vinho Verde Regional «Minho».

Certification of the CVRVV’s Laboratory by the IPQ – Instituto Português da Qualidade – who verifies the legal conformities of the analytical characteristics of the wines of the region.

The Government decided (with consent from the Instituto da Vinha e do Vinho, and agreement of Comissão de Viticultura da Região dos Vinhos Verdes - CVRVV) to reformulate to Statutes of the Vinho Verdes Demarcated Region that rule and protect the designations: "Vinho Verde", "Vinho Verde Espumante", "Aguardente de Vinho da Região dos Vinhos Verdes", "Aguardente Bagaceira da Região dos Vinhos Verdes" and "Vinagre de Vinho Verde". Some of them are new to the diploma. This update was done by Decreto-Lei n.º 263/99, of 14th July that had to be corrected regarding its text and then updated on Decreto-Lei n.º 449/99, of 4th November.

Published the Portaria n.º 28/2001, of 16th January, that acknowledges the sub-regions of the geographical area of production of wines with the right to a denomination of origin “Vinho Verde” under the rule of aticle 3 of the RDVV Statutes, annexed to the Decreto-Lei n.º 263/99, of 14th Juy , updated by Decreto-Lei n.º 449/99, of 4th November. Thus, 9 Sub-regions of the RDVV emerge: Amarante, Ave, Baião, Basto, Cávado, Lima, Monção, Paiva e Sousa.
Through this Portaria the wine that wish to carry the respective sub-region’s designation in complement to the “Vinho Verde” denomination of origin will have to be exclusively obtained from grapes of the recognised varieties of the respective sub-region and vinified within that area. The sub-region designation can be used with the due alterations on the remaining products embraced by the ERDVV, i.e., in Sparkling Vinho Verde, Wine Spirits and Bagaceiras from the region and the Vinho Verde Vinegar (under the consition that they all comply with this “Portaria”).

Published the Decreto-lei n.º 212/2004, of 23rd August that sets up the Organização Institucional do Sector Vitivinícola.
Published Decreto-lei n.º 213/2004, of 23rd August, that sets up the infringements related to the non-compliance of the legal discipline aplicable to the vine, production, trade, transformation and the transit of wines and other vinic products and also to the activities developed in this sector.

On 9th September the General Council approves the new Internal Regulation for Labelling of the products that are under the CVRVV’s control (Vinho Verde, Vinho Regional Minho, Sparkling Vinho Verde, Wine Spirit - Aguardente de Vinho – from the Vinho Verde Region, Aguardente Bagaceira from the Vinho Verde Region and Vinho Verde Vinegar).

Published in 25^th of May the Decreto-Lei 93/2006 that reformulates the Statutes of the Vinhos Verdes Demarcated Region, approved by the Decreto-Lei 10/92, of February 3^rd.

Events commemorating the 80 years of CVRVV - Comissão de Viticultura da Região dos Vinhos Verdes and the 20 years of EVAG - Estação Vitivinícola Amândio Galhano.

Published in 18^th of May the 'anouncement' that certifies the CVRVV s' new statutes, under the regimen of the Decreto-Lei 212/2004, of August 23^rd, that establishes the institutional organization of the vitivinicultural sector.