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The Spanish producers' association Grupo Rioja is seeking more incentives for the care and protection of old vineyards. The association of more than 50 wineries has proposed a concept to the control council Consejo Regulador DOCa, with which the valuable, old vineyards are to be specially protected. This is mainly about more money for the owners to discourage them from grubbing up, as well as technical and promotional measures.
Grupo Rioja is asking the control council to reduce the fees for vineyards older than 35 years by 50 percent and to waive them for hundred-year-old vineyards, as they are important for biodiversity and the environment. The Control Board recently presented a five-year strategic plan to establish Rioja as a leading region in sustainability. To this end, a register of old vineyards is to be created and they are to be specially signposted and designated. Rioja is one of the appellations with the highest proportion of old and hundred-year-old vines worldwide.
(al / Photo: DOCa Rioja)