Cortes de Cima - Responsible Growing

By: Helperbee on 4 August 2008 
Category: Responsible Products

• Português

Although not every business can be ‘Green’ some are still taking responsible steps to do their part to be environmentally conscious and sustainable. Cortes de Cima, one of Portugal’s premier wine brands, is a good example of an upcoming sustainable brand.

(photo credit: Ryan Opaz)

They have adapted various different types of environmental practices in the management of their vineyard. One of these include cherishing the sun in Alentejo by letting 56 square meters of solar panels take care of all the hot water needs of the vineyard. To reduce their energy consumption, they have also installed energy saving lights and insulated their walls and roofs with specialist foam.

When it comes to managing the vineyard themselves, they produce under “Integrated Protection” rules in which only ’soft’ chemicals can be used and only after something appears; preventive spraying is not an option. Another sustainable movement, Cortes de Cima has adapted is a complete self sufficiency in terms of irrigation needs as water is used only from their own reservoirs (which are filled during the rainy months) and follows a ‘regulated deficit’ drip irrigation (ensures the grape quality by giving the vines less water than they want… Don’t ask me how this works. Sounds very interesting though!).

Since Cortes da Cima has adapted the same sustainable practices the 3EcoBees project support, they didn’t hesitate in donating us a few bottles of wine and olive oil for our Eco-Bingo nights at the Fair. I sure hope the winners of those bottles really enjoyed that wine, it is a very unique one…