ARCHIVED - Murcia invests 1.5 million euros to protect its best and oldest grapevines
The oldest vineyards in the Region are being given cash subsidies to help them survive
The Region of Murcia’s government has promised to create a line of aid amounting to 1.5 million euros for the maintenance and conservation of grapevines with the longest history, with the aim of promoting and protecting the regional vineyards that produce highest quality wines.
Regional Minister of Water, Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Antonio Luengo, said at an event in Jumilla, where he addressed winegrowers, “The objective of this grant is to contribute to the maintenance and improvement of habitats and traditional agricultural activities that preserve biodiversity. They are the most diverse and biologically rich ecosystems, but at the same time particularly fragile and vulnerable and for that reason must be protected.”
He continued: “These are vineyards with a small production but with high quality, which are a fundamental part of the wines of the Region of Murcia, so we are contributing to ensure the diversity of traditional varieties and ensure the transfer of a unique genetic material.”
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There will be 300,000 euros per year available for the next five years for winegrowers who belong to of the Designations of Origin of the Region of Murcia. Their vines must be in good health and have been planted in or before 2003.
Murcia is by no means the most prolific or the most famous of Spain’s wine-producing regions, but it does have its own wines with the special Designation of Origin label to certify their unique origin, and it is precisely for these reasons that it is so important to protect them and subsidise the growers.
The old vines in the Region of Murcia which are the object of this subsidy are estimated to make up a total area of 5,045 hectares, distributed among the three appellations of origin of the Region: Bullas, Jumilla and Yecla.
The Monastrell variety of grape is the major variety in the entire wine-growing fabric of the Region, but there are also other varieties such as Airén and Garnacha Tintorera.
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Image 2: CARM
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