The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development, through the General Directorate of Agro-food Production and Cooperatives, has sent this week the resolutions of the latest call for Vinatï aid, in which 49 projects have been authorized that will receive public funding of more than 12.8 million euros.
"With this aid we are going to boost a total investment of 38.3 million euros with which we will continue to improve the overall performance of companies in the wine sector, their adaptation to market demands and the increase of their competitiveness," as announced by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development, Julián Martínez Lizán, according to the statement from the Board.
Since 2015, the regional government has given the green light to 494 Vinatï projects that have generated an investment of 473.6 million euros, backed by 161.9 million euros of public funds aimed at the modernization of wineries and wine cooperatives in Castilla-La Mancha.
The minister detailed these figures at Bodegas Símbolo, in Campo de Criptana, where he checked on the ground an action carried out by this cooperative under the Vinatï 2025 program. This intervention has involved an investment of 442,000 euros, of which 209,500 euros come from aid granted by the regional government. Present at the visit were the mayor, Santiago López, and the president of the winery, María José Pérez.
Since 2023, this cooperative has developed three Vinatï projects that have mobilized 1.75 million euros in investment, with 862,000 euros of public support, "boosting the modernization of the winery and the production of wines with higher added value and demonstrating, as Bodegas Símbolo does, that investing in our cooperatives is investing in the future of the wine sector," according to Julián Martínez Lizán.
Rural cohesion axis and female leadership
Julián Martínez Lizán has emphasized that Bodegas Símbolo represents the key role of cooperativism in the economic and social development of rural areas. With more than seven decades of history, the cooperative has established itself as a reference winery thanks to its commitment to modernization, innovation, sustainability, and constant improvement of its competitiveness.
The head of Agriculture has also highlighted the involvement of the entity with its around 400 partners, to whom it offers numerous agricultural and supply services, as well as the leadership of its president, whom he has pointed out as an exponent of the growing weight of women in the management and renewal of the agri-food sector.
Bodegas Símbolo produces a wide variety of wines under the DOP La Mancha, made with some of the most emblematic grape varieties of the area, such as Airén, Tempranillo, Chardonnay, and Petit Verdot, combining tradition and innovation to obtain quality products. In addition, it is authorized to use the Campo y Alma brand on the wines covered by this designation of origin.
"Cooperatives like Bodegas Símbolo and quality figures like the DOP La Mancha are situated within one of the most prestigious and significant producing areas in Europe and demonstrate that combining tradition, innovation, and joint work is the best guarantee to generate wealth, retain population, and continue projecting the prestige of the wines of Castilla-La Mancha," the counselor concluded.
Measures for those affected by the fires
Regarding the damages suffered by farmers and ranchers due to the various fires, the counselor indicated that the Ministry of Agriculture is collaborating with the Ministry of Sustainable Development to precisely delineate the entire affected perimeter.
In this context, he assured that the affected professionals "will not have any problems in being able to collect first the advance of the CAP of this year."
He also announced that the department is working so that, due to force majeure, it will not be mandatory to meet the requirements established both in agro-environmental measures and in eco-regimes.
"Due to this force majeure, we are going to guarantee that all our farmers and ranchers can collect the aids that correspond to them from the CAP. Not only in the fire of La Mierla but in all those fires that have occurred throughout the regional territory that have exceeded 100 hectares of burned area," the counselor said.
"I believe that we are sensitive and consistent with the fact that farmers and ranchers were not going to be able to apply the rules that establish the aids they have opted for, and that is why we want to provide them with this possibility, so that they do not have any economic repercussions in the collection of the CAP subsidies," he said in this regard.
Advance of the harvest and quality of the wine
Regarding the advance of the harvest campaign, Julián Martínez Lizán has pointed out that it is directly linked to climate change, which causes that "by the end of July some grape varieties are already being processed," a "very clear consequence" of the prolonged high temperatures. This situation also affects productions, as happened last year, when a decrease in the harvest was recorded.
However, he emphasized that, in the face of this scenario, "all transformation processes play a fundamental role so that, even at this time, with cold in the tanks, high-quality wine productions can continue to be made that will be offered to consumers with the guarantees that a good wine is made with all the premises it must have."
Recognition of the work of farmers
According to the Campo de Criptana City Council, the president of the cooperative, María José Pérez, has thanked the institutional support and has emphasized that these lines of aid have allowed for investments that, otherwise, would be unfeasible for many wine industries.
She has also highlighted the effort of the grape growers in a campaign marked by the earliest harvest recorded in the region, which began on July 24 with grapes of excellent quality.