The European project Ecospherewines has transformed over the last three years the ten hectares of the historic estate of A Picha, in the municipality of Paderne (A Coruña), into a true open-air laboratory. Its conclusions were made public this Friday, with the aim of presenting nature-based solutions that make it possible to strengthen the sustainability and resilience of the vineyard.
The presentation event took place at the Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía (CICA) of the Universidade da Coruña. Acting as hosts were the Galician partners of the project: the Fundación Juana de Vega, the Universidade da Coruña, the Reserva de Biosfera Mariñas Coruñesas e Terras do Mandeo and the new owner of the winery Pagos de Brigante, which has already expressed its intention to maintain the continuity of the initiative.
This is an applied research project focused on the sustainable management of vineyards located in Spain (Paderne, Zamora and Salamanca), France (Gaillac-Tarn) and Portugal (Vila Nova de Foz Côa), all of them situated in areas of high ecological value. Its purpose is to deploy an extensive network of green infrastructure in these viticultural landscapes.
The initiative has a total budget of 1.6 million, financed 75% by the Interreg Sudoe Program through Feder Funds.
"The objective has been to validate solutions to move from an intensive vineyard to a vineyard in which grapes continue to be produced, but which enhances the mosaic landscape, so characteristic of Galicia, and has complementary functions such as improving soil fertility, water retention, pollutant filtration, air quality, favoring biodiversity or, even, preserving cultural identity, among other benefits for people and the territory," explains the Fundación Juana de Vega in a statement.
At the event, which was attended by researchers and professionals from Galician viticulture, the "Green infrastructure strategy in the Ecospherewines vineyard" was also presented, an action plan with 25 measures for the 2027-2030 period, aimed at viticulturists, denominations of origin and public administrations.