Spain’s Valencia region took a decisive step to bolster its wine sector by establishing a dedicated wine table within the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries. The aim is to address the sector’s specific needs and strengthen support measures. At the inaugural session held on Thursday afternoon, representatives from the Alicante Denomination of Origin (D.O.) were present, led by its president, Jose Juan Reus, signaling a concrete commitment to collaboration among producers, regulators, and industry bodies.
Councilor Jose Luis Aguirre, who attended the meeting, underscored the strategic importance of the wine sector for the administration. He stated that the table was convened because wine is a foundational pillar of Valencia’s agriculture, reflecting a deliberate policy to back what is a major driver for rural economies. He also highlighted the launch of a targeted support plan for wine production and the rollout of a series of measures designed to emphasize the sector’s significance to the department and its broader agricultural strategy.
In this context, Aguirre recalled the recent call for aid tied to the distillation of by-products from winemaking for the 2023/24 campaign, amounting to two million euros. Distillers have until July 20 to apply, illustrating a practical mechanism to convert by-products into value, reduce waste, and stabilize income for wineries during challenging harvest years. The measure aligns with a broader push to optimize resource use and support sustainable wine-making practices across the region.
The minister also announced the opening, just yesterday, of subsidies for vineyard restructuring and reconversion aimed at operations completing in the 2024/25 campaign. These funds target viticulturists whose vineyards are destined for grape production for wine. The program also covers re-location and replanting of vineyards when necessary due to compulsory health or phytosanitary conditions. This flexibility helps keep the regional viticulture competitive while ensuring compliance with ongoing plant health standards and European agricultural policy objectives.
A broad cross-section of sector voices attended this first industry gathering. Spokespeople from La Unió and Asaja Alicante, along with UPA PV, AVA Asaja, Cooperatives Agroalimentarias de la Comunidad Valenciana, COAG, and the regulatory councils of the Denominations of Origin Utiel-Requena, Alicante, Valencia, and Castellón participated. The turnout signaled widespread alignment among producers, cooperatives, and regulatory bodies around a shared plan to modernize, stabilize, and strengthen the wine sector in the Valencian Community. This collaborative approach aims to ensure that policy tools translate into tangible benefits for growers, vintners, and the local economy, while also supporting quality controls and regional branding across the D.O. system.