Spain’s Ribera del Duero wine region is to receive a €3.6 million sustainable tourism boost. Plus, more people are turning to organic wine.
Spain’s Ribera del Duero wine region will receive €1.8 million in EU funding to enhance its local Wine Route tourism project. The funds form part of a European Union boost filtered through the Spanish government to local tourism initiatives. It will help increase sustainability and further “digitisation” of the visitor experience in the region.
Miguel Ángel Gayubo, president of the Ribera del Duero Wine Route said he was “excited” about the “unprecedented opportunity” for the region, Diario de Castilla y León reported.
“We are taking on this new challenge with the idea of positioning the Ribera del Duero Wine Route as a leading wine tourism destination in digitisation and sustainability,” he said.
Read: Ribera del Duero – Spaniah temperament in a glass
According to El Diario de Castilla y León, the region will get a further €1.8million from a fund in Soria. This will finance the “Puro Duero, Tierra de Frontera” project. The project aims to promote sustainable local development and economic revitalisation of the area.
Organic wine increasingly more popular
A survey of wine drinkers across the UK, France and Germany found that while wine consumption has fallen, organic wine consumption is on the rise.
The Millésime Bio/Ipsos study, conducted across 3000 consumers between September and October, found an average 10% rise (from 2015) in those saying they bought organic products.
Wine consumption appears to be reducing. 73% of respondents said they tried wine in the last six months, against 82% six years ago. However, organic wine consumption appears to have climbed.
Nearly a third (29%) of European respondents said organic wines were part of their regular purchases. This compares to 17% in 2015.
Read: Spain leads the word in organic wine production
The poll also found that over 60% of consumers were prepared to pay more for organic wines. It also pointed out that the price disparity between conventional and organic wines had grown. In 2015 it was €0.9, growing to €2.90 in 2021. This is “likely linked to current debate around fair pricing and the consumer’s consent to pay more for better [wines]” said the study.
This will be good news for the Spanish Organic Wine association (SOW). Spanish organic wine accounts for 7% of overall organic production and 12% of conventional vineyards.
