SANTA ROSA, CALIF. & VILAFRANCA DEL PENEDES, SPAIN. (13 February 2024) – International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA) is delighted to announce that Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España (C.V.N.E.), leading Spanish wine company, has achieved IWCA Gold Member status in recognition of their consistent reductions in emissions and other climate action initiatives across Scopes 1, 2, and 3.
Maria Urrutia, Marketing Director and family member, said, “At C.V.N.E. we have 145 years of history in the same family; a history that has taught us the importance of legacy and of stamping the mark of excellence on what we do. That is why we love and take great care of the land, the vineyard and the fruit of it all: the product.” She continued, “We are fortunate because we have been able to learn from the past to improve the future, as the land and its care an absolute priority for those of us who are and make C.V.N.E. Achieving IWCA Gold membership in just one year encourages us to continue working in the same line in which we are doing and shows us that we are on the right path. It is a great recognition of the effort made, a work of the whole C.V.N.E. team that encourages us to keep on fighting.”
To gain IWCA Gold membership, the company has demonstrated consistent reductions in emissions over time (verified through third-party audited, comprehensive GHG emissions inventories across Scopes 1, 2, and 3) and self-generates onsite renewable energy equivalent to at least 20% of all energy that they consume.
100% of C.V.N.E.’s electrical energy used, across all their installations, comes from 100% renewable sources with Renewable Guarantee of Origin certifications – crucial in achieving zero Scope 2 emissions. In addition, they have installed a biomass boiler, replacing fossil fuel consumption with energy produced from by-product forest residues. This, alongside the installation of solar panels, means that 23% of all their energy comes from onsite renewable sources.
Other efforts have contributed to C.V.N.E.’s achievement in reducing their GHG emissions year over year. These include the use of recycled packaging cardboard, lighter weight grids and bottles, and returnable pallets in many markets. Additionally, the company has built a new logistics center which has been awarded the GREEN certification for building sustainability.
C.V.N.E joins eight existing Gold members at IWCA – Alma Carraovejas, Familia Torres, Jackson Family Wines, Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery, Sula Vineyards, Viñas Familia Gil, VSPT Wine Group, and Yealands Estate Wines – and 46 other international quality wine producers in 11 different countries. This means that IWCA represents over 140 wineries who are at the forefront of carbon emission reduction in the wine sector worldwide.
These members’ efforts to reduce their GHG emissions are featured annually in IWCA’s Annual Report. Published each November, the report gives an exclusive snapshot of how wineries are adopting innovative practices in the face of climate change. It is an essential read for commentators, opinion-formers, buyers, and fellow winery owners who appreciate the real need to tackle the climate crisis in the context of the long-term sustainability of the wine industry.
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IWCA actively invites wineries interested in our mission to contact us. The organization is open to any wine company involved in the production process from winegrowing to bottling that believes in taking strategic action to accelerate innovative climate solutions.