Driving the Recovery of Traditional Grape Varieties in Rioja Alavesa as a Strategic Pillar for Resilience and Biodiversity
Throughout the Tuesdays of July, NEIKER will establish meeting points to enable winegrowers to collaborate in the identification and conservation of ancient vines and unique biotypes
NEIKER, in collaboration with the Provincial Council of Álava , the Basque Government and EDA Drinks & Wine Campus, is strengthening its commitment to preserving genetic heritage in the face of climate change
Modern viticulture faces the challenge of overcoming the genetic homogenisation observed over recent decades in order to improve resilience to climate variability, pests and diseases. With this objective in mind, NEIKER has launched a new phase of its Varietal Identification Programme, a flagship initiative within the new Viticulture R&D&I Plan for Rioja Alavesa. This project stems from close institutional collaboration between NEIKER, the Provincial Council of Álava and the Basque Government, recently joined by EDA Drinks & Wine Campus, with the aim of protecting the region’s viticultural heritage through science and innovation.
A Commitment to the Future of the Region
The Varietal Identification Programme is not an isolated initiative but a fundamental pillar of the cultivation dimension of the aforementioned R&D&I Plan. Its objective is to recover varieties that are now cultivated only to a limited extent or are at risk of disappearing, by locating vines with unique characteristics and a strong capacity for adaptation.
Roberto Pérez-Parmo, researcher in NEIKER’s Plant Production and Protection Department, highlights the purpose of this work:
“The aim is to identify and preserve varieties, or biotypes of traditional varieties, that enrich the genetic heritage of our Rioja Alavesa vineyards, offering winegrowers the opportunity to identify unknown varieties in their old vineyards, assess their sanitary condition, and explore ways of propagating and conserving them.”
Meeting Points for the Sector
To ensure that growers’ knowledge plays an active role in this research, NEIKER has organised a series of information sessions throughout July. On 14, 21 and 28 July, the technical team will be available at the HAZI office (located in the Cuadrilla building in Laguardia) to coordinate sample collection, provide field materials and advise winegrowers on how to identify these distinctive vines within their vineyards.
Results that Validate the Strategy
The strength of this programme is underpinned by the success of previous campaigns, which have demonstrated a high level of engagement from the sector. To date, nearly 20 wineries have actively collaborated in the initiative, enabling the detailed analysis of approximately 200 vines. This work has led to the identification of 38 different varieties, 16 of which have been classified as minority varieties.
Several of these varieties are currently undergoing propagation in nurseries, an essential step in evaluating their agronomic and oenological potential in order to strengthen the viticultural biodiversity of the region.
This recovery effort forms part of a significant strategic investment involving more than 50 R&D projects carried out by NEIKER in the region, worth €5 million, financed by the Basque Government and supported through national and international funding programmes.
Through this roadmap, the technology centre, together with its institutional partners, reaffirms its commitment to a wine-growing model founded on scientific evidence, diversity and sustainability, ensuring the competitiveness of Rioja Alavesa in the face of future challenges.
