The Spanish Council of Ministers has approved an amendment to the Royal Decree governing wine production, introducing measures aimed at streamlining the vineyard authorisation process and addressing the needs of small and medium-sized wine producers.
This initiative, led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (MAPA), seeks to modernize the regulatory framework for new vineyard plantations and grape variety classifications while enhancing sustainability and efficiency within the wine sector.
Key Updates to the Regulation
1. Prioritizing Small and Medium-Sized Wine Farms
One of the most notable changes is the revision of priority criteria to benefit small and medium-sized wine farms. The new regulation aims to reduce administrative complexity in vineyard authorisations, offering producers a more accessible and efficient system. Updated deadlines and reference data for procedural checks will streamline applications, improving fairness and reducing delays.
2. Simplifying Grape Variety Classification
The decree simplifies the process for authorising wine grape varieties across Spain's autonomous communities. Key changes include:
- Elimination of Recommended Rootstocks: A move to modernize the system and remove outdated classifications.
- Updated Grape Variety List: The list of authorised grape varieties has been revised to align with the sector's current needs, fostering innovation and adaptability.
- Detailed Viticultural Registers: A new annex outlines the minimum data required in viticultural registers, ensuring seamless integration with the Agricultural Holding Information System (SIEX).
Limits on New Vineyard Plantations
The government has capped the area available for new vineyard plantations at 914 hectares for 2025, which represents 0.1% of the total planted area as of 31 July 2024. This limit adheres to European regulations, which allow for annual expansions of 0–1% of the previous year’s planted area.
Autonomous Community-Specific Measures
Several autonomous communities have implemented their own restrictions for 2024 to protect local designations of origin (PDOs):
- Castilla y León: A maximum of 100 hectares for the PDO Ribera del Duero, with no outright restrictions on replanting.
- Basque Country: Stricter measures for PDO Chacolí de Bizkaia and Chacolí de Getaria, limiting new plantations to 10 and 15 hectares, respectively, while banning replanting.
These tailored approaches reflect the unique needs of each region, balancing growth with preservation of traditional wine characteristics.
Balancing Growth with Sustainability
These reforms underscore the Spanish government's dual commitment to fostering the wine industry's growth and ensuring sustainable practices. By simplifying administrative procedures and supporting smaller producers, the measures aim to create a level playing field. Simultaneously, the focus on regulating vineyard expansion safeguards the integrity of PDOs, protecting the heritage and reputation of Spanish wines.
Source: Vinetur