Spain is a leader in organic wine production - This is what Serbian wine producers can learn from Spanish colleagues

(Photo: Alexander Chaikin/shutterstock.com)

Spain is also a country with the largest area of land under vine in the world, including one million hectares and 630,000 farms, where 25% of surface is irrigated. Out of that, 30,000 hectares goes on fruits for consumption and the rest for wine production. A total of 86% of area under vines goes under areas that are with protected geographical origin.

It is less known that Spain is dominant in the organic wine production. Spain can not only be proud of the fact that majority of its territory is under organic vineyards - about 84,000 hectares in 2013, according to data from the Spanish Ministry of agriculture, food and the environment, but it can also produce some of the most recognized organic wines in the world.

Wine production sector in Spain is currently undergoing a significant process of modernization and improvement. This is why, since 2000, land area under conversion and restructuring has exceeded 130,000 hectares, as a result of investing app. 800 million euros, representatives of the Economic and Trade Department of the Embassy of Spain say for eKapija.

This is how they do it

(Bodega) Small wineries and cooperatives in parallel work with large companies operating in production centers on different areas, with a common goal to make the offer as diverse as possible. In order to control quality during production process, some wineries purchased or expanded their vineyards since Spanish winery largely supply through other vineyard or buy wine directly from the farmers. Serious investments have been made in construction of new wineries, improving facilities and equipment, machinery and technical adaptations, in order to expand offer of quality wine although level of investments has dropped in recent years due to the economic crisis.

Rioja Region possesses the largest number of registered quality wineries (826), followed by coffee (419) Ribera del Duero (286), La Mancha (256), Catalunya ( 256 ) Penedes (187) and the Rias Baiksas (181) .

Monitoring trends in the exterior, during the construction of wineries has made progress to that extent that the most famous architects manage them, wineries in Rioja specially distinguish here.

This is an incredibly dynamic sector. In addition, this sector is high market concentration - according to estimates, the top five companies together cover 28 percent of the market. Until now, there has not been much foreign investment among the major players, although negotiations on joint projects with other countries to enhance opportunities for global marketing and alliances as a response to fierce internationalization where Spanish wine industry has already plunged in have been in progress.

Support and know-how for Serbia

(Vendos) Embassy of Spain said that, according to expert estimates, Serbia has great potential for wine products to become known and wanted in the world for good characteristics of the soil, number of sunny days and continental climate, but also because Serbia has ecologically clean and healthy areas ideal for growing vines. Serbia needs technology and modernization which are standard for manufacturers in Europe.

Spain will present its latest technological achievements in the field of agriculture at this year's International Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad which will be held May 14 to 20, 2016 . The most important aspects of agriculture - greenhouses, silos, nutrition, equipment for stables and animal husbandry (feeding and heating), irrigation systems, modern systems for protection against the cold, as well as machinery for production of cardboard boxes will be presented at the fair. Seven Spanish companies -Control Helades, Hefe Feritilizantes, Invernaderos There Irconfort, Javier Camara, Silos Cordoba and Tecnobox will participate.

All Serbian companies which want Spanish experience and knowledge to use in development of their own business, can visit the stand of Spain at this year's Fair of agriculture or contact Economic and Commercial Department of the Embassy of Spain at belgrado@comercio.mineco.es.