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- VIAVINUM.
Although the culture of wine is very rooted in Spanish traditions, do you think that there exists sufficient wine culture at the moment?
- EMILIO CASTRO.
There is much wine culture, because Spain is the greater wine producer in the world and we have always had wine, like a very near product, little differentiated. However, after the 70´s, that differentiation has become greater and we have begun to become more aware of a differentiated product and to have, therefore, more wine culture.
- V.V.
Which are the lines of performance that the Foundation is carrying out to improve the knowledge on wine?
- E.C.
We have four working areas fundamentally: First, it is the line of investigation which finances and promotes research studies that favour the knowledge of more or less technical aspects of grape growing or oeneology. We presented, for instance, in the British Museum of London a project that analysed wine remainders that were in amphora of the tomb of Tutankhamen.
The second line is the publishing house, by means of which we publish or we co-publish technical or divulging works. Thirdly, it is the divulging area, amongst which events such as the University Week of Wine stands out, the collaboration with third institutions, the organization of charitable wine tasting, the accomplishment of a wine tasting mythical in the world denominated "The Flavour of the Great", focused to subscribers and also the "Friends Club of the Foundation", is included.
Finally, it appears the line of education in which we offer more or less specific learning to diverse sectors from the final consumer to the own technical staff of the wineries through oenological encounters on very specific subjects, courses or tasting. Also, the initiative of the Wine School stands out. There are sporadic courses of different levels, from initiation to improvement, addressed to the final consumer.
- V.V..
In relation to the University Week of Wine, do you consider that it is an effective initiative to approach wine of quality to the youngest?
- E.C.
Definitely. The University Week of Wine has been working for 23 years, and we estimate that about one thousand people have participated during that week, therefore, around 23,000 people have had the opportunity to make an exercise of correct tasting: which are the different phases of tasting, how must a wine be consumed, how should it be smelled… and that marks a "before and after" in the way of consuming wine. Therefore, I consider that the work done during the week is great.
- V.V.
There is more competition in the wine market worldwide. Which aspect would Spanish wines have to improve in promotion abroad?
- E.C.
I believe that the problem that Spanish wines have abroad is a question of dimension of wineries. In Spain most of the wineries are small, reason why their capacity of distribution is reduced and it is complicated that they can be positioned in many markets. In such way, when we travel abroad we see wines of other countries that normally belong to the same wineries, to great groups; however, we do not see Spanish wines because there are no wineries with sufficient dimension to place their products in many selling points. From a qualitative point of view, it is also certain that the smallest wineries, such as the Spanish ones, usually are able to elaborate products of greater quality and export levels are being increased, as the sale price. And that is totally a positive aspect.
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