We have been involved with vines and wines for more than three centuries. And if we stick only to the time in which we have officially been marketing our wines, we add up to more than four decades offering a product that exudes tradition and its own identity. However, despite the fact that we respect and preserve many of the techniques that our ancestors implanted, it would have been impossible to get to where we are today without having a vision of the future and without committing to innovation. Therefore, how to innovate in traditional wineries without losing the essence?

Innovation & wine

Culture, history, tradition… are some of the typical labels that have been attached to the world of wine for a long time. It is difficult to find sectors in which the legacy left by previous generations, in terms of production and processing, has so much weight. However, to grow we have to adapt to each time and that is where innovation and wineries come together.

Now, in what fields can innovative techniques and viticulture coincide today? From our experience, we would say that there are three pillars on which every wine company rests and any of them has a place in applying innovation techniques.

  • In the product and raw material. That is, in the wine itself and, mainly, in the grapes. Apart from R&D projects in which the achievement of a quality grape prevails while respecting the environment, you can choose to recover certain grape varieties, look for new planting areas that are more favorable to the current climatic conditions.
  • In production processes. Whether in the harvest, in aging, in storage, in bottling… Applying improvements derived from new technologies and combining them with conventional techniques is one more way of innovating.
  • In the business model. At a time when globalization is a reality and in which new communication technologies allow you to reach the other side of the world in seconds, the markets are much larger and so is the competition. For this reason, the business models, the consumers themselves, and the ways to impact them are totally different.

The wines that we make and market in Ostatu will always seek to maintain the identity of Rioja Alavesa based on tradition and history. But the vision of the future and innovation are also values that characterize us and that allow us to continue offering authentic and unique wines.

5 examples of the successful relationship between technology and wine

Currently, the relationship between technology and wine is stronger. Technological implementation in the sector is increasingly appreciated, having an impact on various fields: production, marketing, sustainability… Below, we cite several examples of what is already for many wineries in Rioja Alavesa and other parts of the world a most fruitful relationship:

  • The use of drones, the use of robotics, and the use of sensors. More and more wineries use this kind of device, which is very useful to control the vineyards, their development… For example, with these devices, we can know the hydric or phenolic state of the vineyards. In addition, the production areas, however traditional they may be, are controlled with the most advanced technologies for temperature control and fermentation moments.
  • E-commerce. The implementation and use of electronic commerce to sell products to customers miles away. In fact, it is difficult to find wineries that do not have their own online store or, at least, a website.
  • QR code on labels. Another concrete example, although increasingly fashionable, is the creation of applications that work by including interactive labels with QR codes. With them, the client has the possibility to instantly know everything he wants about the wine he is drinking, regardless of its origin.
  • Sustainable packaging. Sustainability is another topic that is currently very popular and promoting sustainable actions such as designing packaging and containers that are respectful of the environment has become another innovative technique that is more than usual in these times.

In line with these last examples, in our vineyards we apply various sustainable and innovative techniques. We are very aware of the importance of caring for the planet, and of course our land. For this reason, we invite you to discover it for yourself on any of our visits. Do you dare?