Over 500 people attended this second edition of EcoSostenibleWine at Vilafranca del Penedès as 45 renowned professionals in the field of sustainable production and research participated as speakers. In this forum, the existing models and mechanisms for adapting to sustainable viticulture and wine-making were debated and presented -a subject of great interest to the wine profession and consumers alike.
During the two days of the EcoSostenibleWine conference, 45 renowned professionals, specialised in research and the production of still and sparkling wines using sustainable methods, presented and debated the existing models and mechanisms for adapting to sustainable viticulture and winemaking.
In the near future, environmentally-friendly wine production using organic, integrated or bio-dynamic methods will become a necessity.
The synergy brought by the collaboration of both the public and private sides of the profession enhanced the success of this leading forum. Over 500 people attended this second edition of ESW, demonstrating the success of the conference and the interest in the subject despite the current crisis.
These two days have sent a signal to the rest of the wine world and have made Penedès and Catalonia pioneers in their commitment to sustainability in wine.
Examples of sustainable practices presented and recommended at EcoSostenibleWine were an enhanced utilisation of renewable energy, the introduction of techniques to rationalise the use of water, the re-use of water in the winery, the calculation of the carbon footprint as well as the consequences of sustainability in wine production, commercialisation, promotion, and territory and so on.
It is now obvious that sustainable and organic wine production brings an added value in the short term in the production of high quality wines and in acquiring the necessary competitive edge in international markets. During the round table discussion of the last day, experts debated whether the market would be willing to pay more for a sustainable wine than for a “normal” one, reflecting the challenge facing wine producers and the communications and marketing departments at wineries that have committed to sustainability. A clear example is the German market, in which this commitment is getting positive results with truly spectacular sales growth in organic and sustainable wines.
Despite the conflicting views in the debate there was a unanimous call for wines to become sustainable immediately whether or not this question has an impact on their price. There must be added value attached to sustainability in wine, whether or not this may result in higher prices. Are we being asked to make this an intrinsic part of the product?
The President of EcoSostenibleWine and the General Manager of INCAVI, Oriol Guevara, gave the closing speech and ended with the simple rallying cry common to all Catalan wines: “This is OUR EcoSostenibleWine”!
EcoSostenibleWine 2010 was organised by INCAVI, the Department of the Environment and Housing of the Catalan Autonomous Government, the Autonomous University of Barcelona, still wine and sparkling wine boards, Bodegas Torres, Freixenet and Albet i Noya, among other bodies and institutions.
