A conference in Cebreros (Ávila) highlights the value of new varieties and technology in the wine sector

The town of Cebreros in Ávila hosted a conference this Friday highlighting new varieties and technologies in the wine sector. This event was part of a collaboration agreement between Avilagro and the regional government to promote technology transfer and bring innovation processes closer to the Ávila agri-food industry, making it more competitive and generating greater economic dynamism in rural areas.

The meeting, held in collaboration with the Cebreros PDO and the Cebreros City Council, was attended by the president of the Avilagro Agri-food Industry Association, Israel García, who opened the event, and the director of ITACYL, Rafael Sáez, who was in charge of the closing.

The first presentation focused on highlighting the value of minority grape varieties with high oenological potential and the ability to adapt to current climatic conditions, as well as varieties resistant to endemic diseases, "which allow for more efficient and sustainable management of the crop and represent an opportunity for differentiation of wines, fundamental in the current market situation."

In the second presentation, the central theme was the management of plant cover crops in vineyards and their special circumstances in the area, of utmost interest to winegrowers today, taking into account the new requirements of the Common Agricultural Policy.

Finally, the new technologies applied to vineyard management were discussed, along with the latest advances and conclusions of the research work carried out by ITACyL in this area, "which determine that they are basic tools to optimize sustainability and efficiency in the sector."

Sáez highlighted the "positive evolution" of the Cebreros PDO since its inception in 2017, when it began its journey, to the present day with more than 500 hectares, 24 wineries and 341 winegrowers, and emphasized the strengths of this PDO, such as the ability to produce "high-quality raw material, from a vineyard of many years, with a varietal map that allows it to differentiate itself from other areas and its proximity to a large market such as Madrid."

The aim of this event was to showcase the various innovative projects that ITACyL is working on in the field of viticulture and oenology, adapting them to the specific characteristics of this region located in Ávila, a province that will become the wine capital this year, as a new edition of the Zarcillo International Wine Awards 2025 tastings will be held in the capital between May 27 and 29.

This competition was created in 1991 by the Junta de Castilla y León with the purpose of creating a national competition that would defend and promote the quality of wines.