Beyond sustainability 

We are committed to transforming our organic vineyards with the regenerative viticulture model in the belief that it is the only model that can help combat climate change. Regenerative viticulture recovers the natural fertility of the soil, prevents erosion, and encourages biodiversity. 

In short, regenerative viticulture is a method that focuses on restoring life to vineyard soils by imitating exactly how nature works in a natural environment. The more life in the soil, the greater the capacity to capture atmospheric CO2 and to stop rising temperatures. Simultaneously, the accumulation of organic carbon in vineyard soils improves soil health, increases resilience to erosion, and the capacity to prevent drought owing to increased water-holding properties. It also encourages greater biodiversity to create a balanced ecosystem that benefits both the vineyard and your environment. 

The actions that most help us to reduce our CO2 emissions are the generation of our own renewable energy, which – it is responsible for 39% of the energy we consume in the Penedès cellar – energy efficiency measures and sustainable mobility (the plan to increase the fleet of electric vehicles, electric car sharing ...). We have also reduced the weight of our bottles and we are now looking to reuse, manage and recycle the waste generated, optimise our water resources and vineyards, bet on regenerative viticulture.

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We capture and reuse the CO2 produced during fermentation in a pioneering circular economy project at the Penedès winery. CO2 is reused as an inert gas to protect the wine while in the vats. 

However, the project that will help us to capture more atmospheric CO2 in the coming years is the reforestation of our estate in Patagonia, Chile, where we aim to plant two-thousand trees before 2030.

All the initiatives that will hopefully allow us to reach the emission reduction targets are detailed in the Miguel Torres SA Net Zero Transition Plan, which follows the requirements of the United Nations initiative Race to Zero that we are members of.

To reduce the impact of rising temperatures on winegrowing, we are adapting our vineyards using cultivation methods to delay grape ripening. We are also implementing new technologies for precision viticulture such as drones, satellites, and sensors to maintain the quality of our wines. With future generations in mind, we are looking for new environments in which to plant our vineyards, higher altitudes where the climate is cooler. As a result, we have planted vines in Tremp in the Catalan Pyrenees at 950 metres above sea level, and in Els Tossals de Porrera, which, at 950 metres above sea level, is the highest zone in Priorat with llicorella soils. We are also investigating Benabarre in the Aragón Pyrenees at 1,200 metres above sea level, although for now it is still too cold there to plant.  

We are also focusing on recovering ancestral varieties that, as well as being oenological treasures, are able to adapt to high temperatures and drought. Miguel A. Torres initiated this passion project in the early 1980s to recover ancestral varieties on the brink of extinction with the aim of rediscovering our winegrowing heritage before the onslaught of the phylloxera plague. Thanks to the fifth generation’s insightful determination, the project now focuses on those varieties that might become the solution for the future of winegrowing. Of the more than 50 recovered varieties, we are focusing our efforts on six: Forcada, Moneu, Querol, Garró, Gonfaus, and Pirene. We want to make unique wines adapted to climate change that reflect our wine history, heritage, and diversity. 

We have allocated important resources to research with the aim of finding ways to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change. One of the areas we are investigating, in collaboration with universities and other businesses, is the development of CO2 capture and reuse technologies or CCR technologies (Carbon Capture and Reuse). 

We also participate in and lead national and international projects to study the influence of climate change on vines and wines to facilitate new adaptation and mitigation processes.  

We encourage our collaborators and suppliers to share in our commitment to environmental best practices and to reduce their own CO2 emissions. Every year, we hold the Torres & Earth Awards to recognize the commitment of supplies, regions, and communicators in the fight against climate change. We also participate in the yearly Environmental Sessions held at the University of Barcelona. 

We all must act at every level, in every sector, and around the globe to decarbonize the economy, work together, and share knowledge. With this aim, we joined forces with Californian winery Jackson Family Wines in 2019 to found the International Wineries for Climate Action, and in 2021, together with four other partners, we created the first Regenerative Viticulture Association in Spain.