Familia Torres has been selected as a finalist for the Water Reuse Europe Innovation Prize 2025, thanks to its project ‘Innovation in the Water Cycle for Sustainable Reuse in Viticulture’, noted for its circular approach. This accolade highlights the winery’s pioneering efforts in integrating advanced solutions for water reuse and optimisation, further strengthening its reputation as a leader in sustainability and innovation in response to the challenges posed by climate change.
The Familia Torres project aims to close the water cycle at its Pacs dels Penedès winery by regenerating and reusing process water for vineyard irrigation, with the goal of optimising water management and adapting the vineyards to evolving climate conditions. This system reduces reliance on external sources and ensures both the quality and quantity of water available for agricultural purposes. Moreover, the support irrigation system using regenerated water, installed at the historic Mas La Plana estate, helps maintain grape yields and quality, as well as the survival of the vines during years of severe drought.
In 2024, Familia Torres began installing the irrigation system in part of the vineyard, with plans to extend coverage to the entire estate (approximately 30 hectares) over the coming years. The water used is sourced from a proprietary regeneration system located within the winery. Last year, the winery succeeded in reusing nearly half of its treated water, primarily for cleaning, cooling, and support irrigation operations.
This project represents the culmination of a comprehensive water management strategy that Familia Torres initiated following the drought that affected Catalonia between 2007 and 2008. The plan encompasses rainwater harvesting from rooftops, the sectorisation and monitoring of water circuits within the winery according to their use, process optimisation, and the installation of a treated water regeneration plant at its main Penedès facility, operational since 2016. These measures have enabled the winery to reduce water consumption by 22% compared to 2016 and to make significant progress in adopting responsible water management practices.
The Water Reuse Europe Innovation Prize 2025 is awarded by the Water Reuse Europe (WRE) association in Brussels every two years, recognising companies and professionals who are pioneering new solutions to address current and future water supply challenges across Europe, through innovative initiatives at the forefront of water reuse practices. The three finalists for this edition, alongside Familia Torres, were IVG-CT by H2oVortex (Luxembourg) and Deeper Blue by Waterunie (Belgium), which was announced as the winner.
