The Penvitis+ project, driven by various origin denominations, wineries, and research centers, including the Catalan Institute of Vine and Wine of the Generalitat, seeks new working methods for vineyards with slopes exceeding 30%. The aim is to make these crops more resilient to climate change and economically viable, reducing the physical effort for viticulturists and fostering innovation through digital technologies and regenerative practices.
The initiative incorporates the use of drones for phytosanitary treatments and the development of an artificial intelligence-based predictive model adapted for inclined terrains. Concurrently, it promotes regenerative viticulture, focusing on the carbon cycle to regenerate soils, curb erosion, foster biodiversity, and combat climate change.
Furthermore, agronomic practices are being validated to mitigate the effects of thermal stress and optimize grape maturation. Through pilot plot trials and georeferenced agronomic monitoring, strategies such as cover cropping are being evaluated to enhance grape protection against high temperatures and intense solar radiation.
In a parallel trial in Penedès, specifically in Guardiola de Font-rubí, liquid pheromone against the European grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana) has been successfully applied using drones. This mating disruption technique, authorized by the Department of Agriculture of the Generalitat, reduces application time, labor costs, and avoids plastic waste, although its widespread adoption is still subject to legal limitations.
The project, set to run until mid-2029 with a budget of 600,000 euros largely funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, aims to replicate these solutions in other heroic viticulture areas. Xoán Elorduy, head of the Viticulture and Enology service at Incavi, highlights the project's commitment to ensuring the continuity of complex and costly viticulture, making it more ecologically, socially, and economically sustainable.
For wineries like Mas Doix, participation offers an opportunity to improve vineyard management, making them more resilient to climate change and securing their economic viability. New techniques are being explored that balance traditional methods with new technologies, such as vegetation management and the use of drones for ecological treatments.
