The Grand Gold Award in the Proava Category went to El Árbol Blanco de Bodegas! 64% of organic farmers are affected by DANA. Indeed, Organic farming is the best way to combat climate change. A round table on organic wines, an analysis of the results of the 3rd Official Organic Wine Competition and the presentation of the Mostra Solidaria y Ecológica (Solidarity and Organic Fair) were the main themes of the First Agri-food Conference of the Valencia Region organised by PROAVA in the Casino de Agricultura, in collaboration with the Organic Agriculture Committee of the Valencia Region and the Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Water, Livestock and Fisheries.

The presentation and sharing of the medals awarded in the III Official Organic Wine Competition of the Valencian Community was exciting, after a tasting in which the attendees were able to appreciate the quantitative but also qualitative leap compared to the last edition. The Grand Gold in the Proava category went to El Árbol Blanco from Bodegas Urbanas. In the category of young whites, the Gold medal went to Merseguera from the Santa Bárbara de Titatiaguas Cooperative, while the silver medal went to Pasión de Moscatel from Bodegas Sierra Norte. In the category of whites with singular fermentation, the Gold went to Xtremo from Celler Cata Ruz, and the silver to Seducción from Bodegas Rebollar Ernesto Cárcel. In the rosé category, gold went to Pasión de Bobal from Bodegas Sierra Norte and silver to Fuenteseca from the same winery. The same winery won gold in the young red category for its Mariluna wine, while Celler CataRuz repeated in the same category with silver for Melic. Among the crianza reds, gold went to Las Hoces Clos-Corbí and silver to Sueño de Megala from Bodegas Enguera. In the sparkling wines, gold went to Vegamar Privee 18 and silver to Cavas Mareva for the Vega Mediem Rosé. In the sweet wine category, Blanc Quet from Enológica Oleana stood out.

Eloy Haya, as representative of the Casino de la Agricultura and member of the Board of Directors of PROAVA, opened the first session on Organic Wines of the Valencian Community with a round table moderated by Regina Monsalve, secretary of the CAECV with the participation of a large representation of the sector, Vicente Faro, president of the CAECV who pointed out the importance of the promotion of the organic product, with a first leap with the Organic Production Plan in the 1990s which helped producers and a second leap in recent times which is aimed at processing, transformation, marketing and primary producers who are seriously affected by the DANA, given that 48% of the companies in the province of Valencia certified by the CAECV are affected, representing 64% of organic agricultural producers, a total of 1354 in all.

Data on the extent and scope of the DANA effect, said Faro, will be published on 3 December when they meet with Sergio Barrachina, the regional minister for agriculture. Lluís Romero, president of PROAVA, highlighted the double aspect of the appreciation of organic produce. The fact is that, from the outside, organic products are triumphant, but there is still a long way to go to make Valencians aware of the products we have and the importance of the wealth they provide. He also stressed that organic farming is the best way to combat climate change, due to its greater adaptability to the territory.

Maria Ángeles Novella, Doctor in Biological Sciences and technician in charge of the Requena Oenological Station, pointed out that we are generating a profound imbalance in the land with conventional agricultural practices and the established irrigation system, and it would be key to stop soil erosion by dragging the land, as has happened with the DANA effect. Regina Monsalve, pointed out the importance of green cover, and recalled that ‘the soil is the stomach of the plant’.

Fernando Piquer, head of service of the agri-food quality figures of the Valencia Region highlighted the importance of the level of self-demand in the territories to reinforce the consumer’s perception of the quality figures and to evolve beyond the minimum standards, establishing sub-areas that guarantee and certify quality. Piquer stressed that the Valencian Region is on a spectacular journey and that we are at a turning point, as there is still a lot to do.

Carmina Cárcel, general secretary of the Utiel-Requena PDO, stressed that the key and the axis on which the Utiel-Requena PDO is moving is around sustainability, ‘the future of winemaking is to achieve rural development’, she also pointed out that the promotion plans to third countries talk about sustainability. And finally she recalled that since 2016 the Control Board published the Wine Agenda and every year it is updated with numerous wine events both wineries, establishments, associations etc. of the CV for the promotion of their wines.

Currently the DOP Utiel Requena is committed to supporting local restaurants, also affected by the DANA, supporting courses, training, etc. and spreading the wine culture in schools, betting on the biodiversity of the vineyard and working closely with the CSIC to select the best biotypes for its vineyards.

José Vicente Guillem, doctor in agronomy and oenology, the last to speak at the table, presented his study on climate change in the Valencian Community, work that began in 2012 with the Valencian Foundation for Advanced Studies, when experts in the field were already saying that the climate was changing, thereby warning all farmers about the importance of adaptation. The winegrower, therefore, will have to experience a global problem that will be responded to with a global solution, but in the meantime each farmer/grower will have to solve his own situation. This is why we are in a process of globalisation and why it is essential to respect regionalisation, as it fulfils quality and value within the percentages established for the market share set for local producers. Science and knowledge are ahead of the legal framework and with all this there is a sacrifice on the part of the producer who has to adapt production volumes to yields. The importance of grape prices and marketing in creating value for grapes was emphasised.

The event also featured the presentation of the Solidarity and Organic Fair of the Valencia Region, which will take place in the Plaza del Celler del S.XIII during the long weekend in December, from the 6th to the 8th. This initiative programmed by the CAECV and PROAVA aims to be one of the initiatives that mark the beginning of a new stage in the agri-food sector, coordinating under a solidarity brand aimed at the primary sector affected by the DANA, whose objective is to help farmers and companies, trying to raise funds for solidarity purposes and promoting the consumption of wines and food from the Comunitat Valenciana now more than ever and permanently over time, as we are ready for this opportunity that the market is opening up for us.

Report by ‘24/7 Valencia’ team

Article copyright ‘24/7 Valencia’