Title – Name
Albet i Noya Winery
Scope / Sector / Industry
Wine tourism
Country / Region
Spain, Sant Pau d’Ordal
Why is it good practice?
The Albet i Noya winery is considered a good example of a wine tourism business as it offers authentic experiences of responsible wine tourism, giving great importance to the principles of sustainability. It is a company that demonstrates its social and environmental concerns in practice and through every action and service it seeks to promote and manage them in the best possible way for the benefit of all. The implementation of organic farming, the reduction of energy consumption, the offering of organic products and the support of vulnerable social groups are just a few of the practices it follows.
How is it applied?
The vineyards of the Can Vendrell de la Codina Estate, in Sant Pau d’Ordal of Spain, were first cultivated by the Albet family in 1903. The winery, designed in 1925 by the Spanish architect Josep Maria Pericas, is also located there, and includes a cellar for aging the wines and a wine cellar. Today, the family owns additional vineyards, namely the Can Milà Estate, in Lavern, and the Can Simó Estate in the Mediona area, while the main family house, dating back to 1872, houses the reception and the shop.
The Albet i Noya Estate has almost 80 hectares of organic vineyards and consists of small plots of calcareous and clay-limestone soils surrounded by a typically Mediterranean landscape of forests and shrublands. The estate’s organic vineyards are surrounded by dry stone walls, providing a refuge for small animals, as well as an invaluable historical and cultural heritage. The art of dry stone walls was declared an Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2018 and the winery has made the preservation, restoration and promotion of the dry stone walls a priority.
In the context of the development of wine tourism, the experiences that the winery has designed and offers to its visitors are briefly presented below:
- tour packages to the vineyard and winery and wine tasting, accompanied by local organic products or a “sustainable breakfast”.
- tour packages and lunch option.
- recommended hike of three or five kilometers (low difficulty) in the mountains of the area between dry stone walls, Mediterranean forests and vineyards. The meeting point is the winery, where visitors are given a map and instructions for the route through its organic vineyards. The excursion includes wine and a small aperitif in a picnic basket.
- recommended cycling route. Specifically, an electric bike with the necessary equipment is provided, at a nearby train station, where there is easy parking and the visitor can easily reach it by direct public transport from Barcelona. There, a Google Maps route is also given showing the route to the winery. Then, a guided tour and wine tasting, and even brunch among the vineyards, follow.
- visit to the winery bar for a selection of wines and snacks from local products.
- possibility of hosting private events.
In addition to the specific services provided by the winery, another important reason why it is a good practice is because it makes a significant effort to provide services in terms of sustainability. The winery’s activities are based on the application of the principles of sustainable development, with the aim of protecting the environment and social and economic well-being.
The actions to ensure sustainability at the winery began as early as 1978, when the family’s adventure with organic wines began, becoming the first winery in the state to commit to sustainable agriculture. Since then, the Albet i Noya estate has become a reference point in organic agriculture and there are many wineries that have followed the path of sustainability. Today, the Penedès region has become one of the regions with the most organic vineyards in the world.
The company’s commitment to sustainability remains steadfast to this day, following the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The sustainability of the estate is achieved in a variety of ways. The following are indicative:
- Obtaining certification for the winery’s organic production (own vineyards and vineyards of its suppliers).
Using green and organic fertilizers, utilizing vine cuttings and animal manure suitable for organic farming and avoiding the use of pesticides. - Participation in the “VRIAC” project (Resilient and Indigenous Varieties Adapted to Climate Change), an initiative that aims to minimize sulfur and copper treatments in the vineyard, minimize tractor use and offer the market cleaner and healthier wines for the consumer. The family’s priority is to achieve natural resistance of indigenous grape varieties.
- Management of the flora with the aim of maximizing the flora and fauna of the vineyards, achieving a good balance between man and nature.
- Support for biodiversity on the farm by creating a “hotel” that hosts farm insects (bees, wasps, ladybugs, beetles, etc.), in collaboration with a scientific team, families and customers.
- Collection of corks for reuse. Specifically, all corks produced at the winery are sent to a Catalan Institute where they are recycled and transformed into materials suitable for construction, such as corks or playground mats.
- Collection of vegetable oils in collaboration with a cooperative group. It is a service offered to all employees and customers of the Winery and which, in addition to providing employment to a group of people at risk of exclusion, encourages recycling and protects the environment. From the resulting oil, biodiesel is produced, thus avoiding water pollution.
- Installation of 136 solar panels that provide over 42% of the energy used by the company. The agricultural warehouse Can Milà de la Roca is self-sufficient using 100% solar energy.
- Participation of the winery as a collaborating partner in the Viure de l’aire wind energy project, which involves the installation of a large-scale wind turbine, jointly owned, which allows the production of clean and green electricity, while making solidarity between people living in urban areas and those living in rural areas possible.
- Supply of a fleet of hybrid and electric vehicles and a charger for electric vehicles. The facility operates directly on solar energy. The charger is a free service for visitors who either tour the winery, visit the winebar or purchase from the wine shop.
- Installation of a biological treatment unit and rainwater collectors in all winery buildings.
- Creation of water collectors, which are used for occasional irrigation of the vineyard and as a meeting point for birds, thus encouraging greater biodiversity.
- Reduction of waste and minimization of environmental impacts in all parts of the company, from production, wine tourism or marketing.
- Reduction of waste by creating a digital menu for the Winery’s winebar, with the QR code placed on a wooden material.
- Participation of the winery as a sponsor in a marathon that includes walking or running and at the same time a cleaning action in the forests and paths of the route. With this participation, the winery makes its donation to an NGO that is active in the reintroduction of horses into natural spaces.
- Support and promotion of products with social value. Specifically, the winery promotes the local IGP Rooster Mallart’s Roaster pâté produced by the Mas Albornà Foundation. The Pendès Rooster IGP is an endangered species and some farmers are trying to preserve it. For this reason, the winery supports its promotion.
- Support and promotion of products from local workshops that, due to the size or aesthetics of their products, cannot be competitive in the market.
- Support of female entrepreneurship and at the same time the reuse of products. Specifically, the Winery uses reused denim for pillows, aprons and part of its drivers’ clothing, made by a local 100% women’s company.
- Supporting ethical workwear, through the supply of personalized shirts worn by all employees of the Winery, which come from ecological fabrics. Also, the sustainable clothing brand from which the company supplies them employs vulnerable people in Spain and Portugal.
It is important to mention that all the above actions towards sustainability are displayed on the official website of the Winery and for each of them the goal achieved according to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is mentioned.
Where is it applied?
The wine tourism activities offered by the Albet i Noya estate are aimed at those who wish to experience a special winery, which promotes local wine, gastronomy and wine tradition through authentic experiences that also have a positive impact on the local community and the environment.
When did it applied?
The cultivation of the first Albet i Noya vineyards began in 1903.
Results
The Albet i Noya winery has won many awards for the wines it produces. However, it is worth mentioning that, as a result of its continuous commitment to environmental conservation and research into the production of high-quality organic wines, the winery was awarded the “Sustainable Wineries for Climate Protection” (SwfCP) seal in 2024. Furthermore, for its wine tourism activities, it won the FEGP 2017 Award in the Wine Tourism sector from the Federation of Entrepreneurs of Gran Penedès and Garraf.
Other Information
The Albet i Noya winery has obtained several certifications that align with its commitment to sustainability. Specifically, its vineyards are certified organic by the Catalan Council for Ecological Agricultural Production (CCPAE), while the winery has an environmental certification ISO 14001. In addition, the company’s wine tourism department operates under the criteria of the international sustainable certification Biosphere Responsible Tourism and its wines are certified as vegan by the international company V-LABEL.
It is important to mention that the winery is pet-friendly and offers vegan options in its meals.
The official website of the Albet i Noya Winery is: https://albetinoya.cat/en/index.php
