RECENT CHANGES

Since the 1980s, the traditional Spanish winegrowing regions have been carrying out deep changes in response to increasing international competition.

        There are significant improvements in winemaking technology over the last fifty years, such as: access to better grape varieties and systematic research into viticulture. Other recent practises include spraying water on vines to protect them from sub-zero temperatures (aspersion), new grafting techniques, and mechanical harvesting. The use of drip irrigation in recent years has expanded vineyards into areas which were previously implantable.

        After a strong process of modernization winemaking experienced in the vineyards and Spanish wines for the past 50 years, the sector faces the most promising complex and numerous challenges.

        The professionalization of the sector goes through improvement of quality of supply combining tradition and innovation in a highly competitive context.

                                                                                         By Loli Martín