LEADING IN SUSTAINABILITY

Environmental Dimension

 

Spain leads the world in terms of area under vine, with a remarkable diversity of regions, climates, soils and grape varieties. It is also the global leader in organic vineyards, accounting for 13% of the total. This prominence underlines a widespread awareness throughout the value chain of the importance of environmental stewardship, which is essential to the sustainability and future of the sector.

There is a strong commitment to advancing processes that minimise environmental impact through research and collaboration. The future and sustainability of the industry depends on this commitment, along with a focus on innovation and research in both vineyards and wineries.

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Environmental Challenges in the Spanish Wine Industry

In recent years, the Spanish wine industry has demonstrated a strong commitment to environmental sustainability, adopting cleaner, more efficient and environmentally friendly techniques throughout the winemaking process.

This commitment is supported by a solid foundation of scientific and technical knowledge, enabling the industry to develop strategies that adapt to the unique climatic conditions of Spain’s vineyards implementing sustainable agricultural practices tailored to the diverse range of grape clones and varieties.

This environmental stewardship is particularly important when growing vines in areas where other crops often cannot thrive. It helps to sustain the rural population, supports a business deeply rooted in tradition and preserves an important part of Spain’s cultural heritage.

 

Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity, and the wine industry is particularly vulnerable. Current climate projections suggest that if greenhouse gas emissions continue at their current levels, Spain could experience higher temperatures, reduced rainfall, and an increase in extreme weather events such as droughts and heatwaves.

Viticulture is highly sensitive to these climate changes, as shifts in weather patterns can affect profitability, wine styles and the overall sustainability of the industry. In response, the Spanish wine sector is actively working to implement climate change mitigation strategies through environmentally sustainable methods and practices to ensure the long-term socio-economic viability of the industry.

Environmental challenges: a roadmap

Preserving the environment and biodiversity is essential for the future of the wine industry in Spain. Sustainable practices must be integrated into every aspect of viticulture –from soil management to the microbiota within the plant, grape, winery and wine systems– to ensure the long-term viability of Spanish vineyards.

To achieve this, the industry is focusing on mitigation strategies, particularly by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Efforts are being made to improve CO2 sinks and limit emissions throughout the process, including viticulture, winemaking, bottling, conditioning, transport and distribution. At the same time, research is underway to develop adaptation strategies for the more extreme conditions resulting from climate change.

– Efficient use of energy and water: Many wineries have invested in renewable energy sources, achieving self-sufficiency and significantly reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint. To optimise water use, various irrigation techniques have been implemented, including overhead drip, underground drip and surface irrigation, often combined with the use of cover crops to further improve water efficiency.

  • Research and adaptation: The industry is also focused on developing new grape clones that are more resilient to climate instability and better suited to specific conditions. Sustainable vineyard management practices are also being adopted to promote soil biodiversity. Long-term adaptation strategies include relocating vineyards to areas better suited to changing climatic conditions.
  • Promoting the circular economy with waste management and packaging reuse.

Future

Throughout history, viticulture has shown a remarkable ability to adapt to environmental, social and economic changes. In recent years, rapid scientific and technological advances have further enhanced the industry’s adaptability.

Today, the challenge for winegrowers is to define their production and investment strategies in an uncertain future. As the climate changes, past experience is no longer a reliable guide to future decisions.

Vicente Sotés, Emeritus Professor of Viticulture at the Polytechnic University of Madrid