Casa Relvas with certified sustainable production

Casa Relvas is the first of the ten largest wine producing companies in the Alentejo to receive a Sustainable Production Certification. The audit report of the Alentejo Wines Sustainability Program (PSVA) recognized the sustainable practices in the various aspects – social, environmental and economic – carried out by the Alentejo wine producer. «The Casa Relvas team is very proud of this certification carried out by the company CERTIS in partnership with the Alentejo Regional Winery Commission», says Alexandre Relvas, CEO of Casa Relvas. “This certification reveals that the philosophy we believe in and that we uphold – and practice – is the right path. We believe that this approach values the product and the region at a national and international level, and that is why we work daily in the implementation of sustainable practices in the various dimensions [social, environmental and economic] and, therefore, this step is extremely important for us. because it recognizes our commitment», adds the official. The implementation of sustainable policies has been an integral part of the pillars of Casa Relvas’ activity since its foundation, nearly two decades ago. In the countryside, good soil management is promoted, the use of phytopharmaceuticals is reduced, the use of auxiliary organisms, the preservation of ecosystems and biodiversity, the conservation and restoration of water lines, and the use of integrated production methods and biological. At the winery, energy efficiency and the rational use of water are priorities, as is the reduction of waste produced. Promoting the dematerialization of processes, as well as the use of more sustainable products, such as stoppers, barrels and other materials from certified forests, are also practices promoted by the company. Employee training is encouraged so that they also understand that the company’s efforts towards sustainability go far beyond the vineyard or cellar, accompanying them when they return to their families. Casa Relvas promotes continuous training, as well as issues associated with hygiene and safety at work, the involvement of the entire team in strategic decisions at an operational level, synergies between the winery and the surrounding community, and the leading role that the company plays. in the regional socio-economy.

These approaches are part of the sustainability commitment developed by the team of this family business, a pioneer in the Alentejo Wines Sustainability Program and with one of the highest ratings (3.8 out of 4). As an example, in recent years Casa Relvas has recorded a reduction in the winery of approximately 30% of water resources to produce each bottle, and all the water used there can be reused to water the vineyards, with Casa Relvas being one of the few companies sector in Portugal with a system for the reuse of municipal wastewater. As for packaging, the producer mostly uses cardboard made from certified recycled paper, and the bottles are produced with a smaller amount of glass, thus greatly reducing CO2 emissions from the company’s activities.

Another of the measures implemented is related to sheep grazing. Through winter grazing in the vineyards, Casa Relvas contributes to the fight against climate change, reducing the carbon footprint of production, since it reduces the use of herbicides – which are often products based on hydrocarbons -, and chemical fertilizers. , passing a part of the fertilization to be done with organic residues from the cellar and animal compost. In addition, the producer also avoids the use of machines to cut weeds, reducing emissions of gaseous pollutants and soil compaction. In order to quantify all these efforts, Casa Relvas annually calculates the carbon footprint and implements various measures to ensure its reduction. In addition to environmental policies, Casa Relvas also cooperates with social solidarity institutions in the communities, namely through the financing of various initiatives and collaboration with local suppliers.

In the financial dimension, the Alentejo producer aims to maintain a balanced economic structure, always seeking to have positive results and the ability to make the necessary investments. Casa Relvas believes in the importance of sustainable action in these three spheres – social, financial and environmental – in order to achieve the sustainability objectives proposed by the company, which aim to preserve natural resources to guarantee the future of new generations. Learn more about the Sustainability Policy implemented by this family project here. It is also worth mentioning that the certification of sustainable production was awarded by the certifier Certis, which, along with Bureau Veritas, Kiwa Sativa and SGS, work in partnership with the Alentejo Regional Wine Commission. Sustainable agricultural practices, the preservation of biodiversity, efficient water management and social responsibility projects are some of the criteria evaluated by these bodies for the award of the seal, with which Casa Relvas has just been distinguished.

Adega de Vidigueira creates a Sustainability Office

According to Porto Editora, in 2019, “Sustainability” was one of the 10 most used words of the year. Then came COVID-19 and the concerns changed. However, companies such as Adega da Vidigueira maintained their plan to restructure buildings and activities in order to move towards increasingly sustainable alternatives, thus reducing the impact they have on the environment, both globally and locally.

Cost reduction, use of renewable energy through Solar Panels, savings in water consumption, more ecological packaging, reduction of plastics are, for example, some of the measures that Adega Cooperativa de Vidigueira, Cuba and Alvito has been implementing throughout of recent years.

With the growth of this area, the Adega created a specific office, which will not only deal with environmental sustainability, but will also be in charge of all projects that may arise – Sustainability and Projects Office. This will be in the care of Rita Ferro, Food Engineer, who for the last 7 years has worked in the Technical Department of the Winery.

For Rita Ferro, «this was a decisive step for the Adega Cooperativa de Vidigueira, Cuba and Alvito», she says. He continues «In recent years we have made several changes to our structure, in order to become increasingly sustainable. All actions focused on increasing the quality of business life of employees, assuring our consumers that we are doing everything in our power to take care of the ecosystems and people of today and tomorrow. It is important for companies to be an example of the commitment to a circular economy, while promoting an increase in individual environmental awareness». Finally, he adds: «It is our ambition to achieve, as soon as possible, certification within the scope of the Alentejo Wines Sustainability Program, he adds.

19|90 Premium Wines launches Segredo de Saturno

The unit responsible for promoting the premium wines of the Global Wines group, has just launched Segredo de Saturno, an exclusive red, distinctly from Alentejo, which has a history of secrecy and mystery. Originating from the exceptional harvest of 2015, Segredo de Saturno is the combination of grapes carefully chosen by the oenology team without ever revealing the selected varieties, a unique blend that will not be repeated.

«This wine is a well-kept secret by our team of five winemakers. But the secret is not only in the form, it is also in the perfect combination of the elements of its terroir: the schist soil, the microclimate, the grapes and the oenological practices that, taken together, gave rise to an exceptional wine. A wine that will go down in history as a secret that can be tasted, but that will never be revealed», reveals Vítor Castanheira, administrator of 19|90 Premium Wines.

After a careful selection of grapes by the winemakers, the wine fermented for 18 months in French oak barrels (50% new and 50% second-use) and then aged for 48 months in the bottle. The Secret of Saturn is definitely a wine that has matured with time, this time that in Alentejo you feel slower. On the nose, it is intense, with distinct complexity and a mix of fruity and tertiary notes, presenting, in the mouth, a fruity, soft, well-structured, harmonious flavor with a distinct persistence. Ideal to taste, calmly, in a special moment.

O Segredo de Saturno, with a limited production of 5000 bottles, has a recommended price (RPP) of €60.00, and is on sale in the best wine cellars and restaurants in Portugal and in the online store 1990.wine.

Herdade Monte da Cal has 100 hectares and is a property of the Global Wines group located in the municipality of Fronteira, in the parish of São Saturnino, in North Alentejo. Surrounded by the tranquility of the northern Alentejo plain, Herdade Monte da Cal has planted the red varieties Trincadeira, Syrah, Aragonês, Alicante Bouschet, Alfrocheiro and Touriga Nacional; and the white Antão Vaz, Viognier, Arinto and Alvarinho. The architecture and decoration of the estate reflect the Arab influences, so present in the Alentejo culture.

19|90 Premium Wines is the division of the Global Wines group that is responsible for the marketing and promotion of single estate wines produced in Portugal that are part of the group’s premium brands – Vinha do Contador, Casa de Santar, Encontro and Saturno. . It is also responsible for managing wine tourism, which will be one of the biggest areas of investment in the coming years.