Torres takes global warming seriously

Spain’s leading winemaking family is reaching new heights in its fight against global warming – by planting vineyards at altitude.

Torres, which as been making wine for four generations in Penedes, sees our climate is changing and in an accelerated way. Already, for example, the harvest in its Catalan vineyards is now coming up to two weeks earlier than in the past. With this in mind, Torres has been planting in hillside locations with cooler growing conditions, which at 800 to 1,000 metres above sea level are four times higher than their main winery at Pacs.

When Torres bought the 104-hectare estate in the foothills of the Pyrenees near Tremp 10 years ago, the company had no any idea that it might be needed to combat climate change. However, since then Torres has seen the potential of higher-altitude areas considering the shift in temperatures and has planted mainly Chardonnay and Merlot, as well as some Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and Viognier on the estate.

But the company isn’t just busy making sure it has vineyards that will be viable in the future. It is committed to minimising its own effect on the environment and believes everyone should be doing their bit to create a greener planet too. But it’s no empty credo. Torres is planning to put its money where its mouth is by creating grants totalling five million euros for reforestation projects over the next 10 years.

Miguel Torres explained, ‘Despite the fact that a famous English entrepreneur has offered 25 million euros for the scientists that can discover a solution to the reduction or storage of CO2 in the atmosphere, this will be extremely difficult due to the energy costs involved. The only solution at present is to promote the plantation of forests and all types of vegetation on the planet: photosynthesis is still the best weapon which nature possesses to fight against climatic change. The vineyards already perform this function since they are clearly consumers of carbon dioxide, in turn releasing oxygen into the atmosphere. However, in Spain, we think that there are thousands of hectares of land which could be reforested.’

He added that, ‘These funds can also be allocated to research projects, which will facilitate the reduction of CO2 in the atmosphere as well as its capture and storage.

‘Unfortunately, climatic change is a reality that has been proven by scientists and the planet’s inhabitants. We think that everyone must contribute in the fight against this threat,’ he said.