The Ribera del Duero winery is embarking on a new vintage at a certified organic vineyard, where more than 25 years of research have enabled it to combine traditional knowledge with science and new technologies.
September marks one of the most important times of the year for Bodegas Comenge: the grape harvest. In Curiel de Duero, the vineyard once again takes centre stage, and every decision – from the exact moment each plot is harvested to the selection of the bunches – will be crucial in defining the character of a new vintage.
At Comenge, however, the grape harvest does not begin with the secateurs. In the weeks leading up to it, the team constantly monitors the condition of the grapes, analysing their ripeness, acidity and health, as well as tasting the berries directly in the vineyard. The aim is to find the optimal moment for each plot and to preserve the grapes’ identity as much as possible.
Innovating to gain a better understanding of the vineyard
This approach to the harvest encapsulates a philosophy that has guided Comenge since its foundation in 1999: innovation is not about transforming the wine; it is the path to understanding it better.
The winery currently has over 80 hectares of certified organic vineyards, a path chosen to promote the quality of the grapes and the biodiversity of our small ecosystem, by eliminating herbicides, insecticides, pesticides and mineral fertilisers from cultivation. The aim is to work with living, balanced soil, preserving the character of each plot.
This work in the vineyard is complemented by a track record of over 25 years of collaboration with research centres. One of Comenge’s most significant projects has been the study and selection of indigenous yeasts sourced from its own vineyards, used to achieve fermentations that more faithfully reflect the character of the landscape and of each vintage.
This research has also led Comenge to explore new tools to tackle some of the sector’s major challenges, such as climate change. Consequently, the winery is currently working on initiatives relating to vineyard adaptation, technology applied to winemaking, and new tools such as the implementation of an agro-photovoltaic installation capable of providing intelligent shading for the vines depending on environmental conditions.
“Every harvest is different and forces us to learn anew. The experience gained over all these years helps us make decisions, but it is the vineyard that sets the course,” explains Rafael Cuerda, technical director at Bodegas Comenge.
A grape harvest that reconnects the land, the people and the wine
Beyond its agricultural aspect, for Comenge the grape harvest represents one of the moments that best illustrates its philosophy: wine as a meeting point between innovation, knowledge, people and time.
During these weeks, the landscape of Curiel de Duero is transformed and work intensifies in the vineyard and the winery. It is the beginning of a process that will culminate months later in a new vintage, but whose origins lie precisely here and now: in every selected bunch, every plot and every decision made during the harvest.
Because at Comenge, innovation looks to the future, but always starts from the same place: the land.
About BODEGAS COMENGE
Bodegas Comenge was founded in 1999 in Curiel de Duero, in the heart of the Ribera del Duero. Its philosophy combines organic viticulture, research and innovation to produce wines that express the character of their origin. The winery views sustainability and research as tools for gaining a better understanding of the vineyard, preserving its biodiversity and tackling the challenges of viticulture in the future.
Source: NEWLINK SPAIN