Cuatro Rayas upholds eco-credentials for DO Rueda

Bodega Cuatro Rayas has revealed it has a reduced carbon footprint with evidence that all of its electrical power is from renewable sources.

The co-operative winery, located in the designation of Origin Rueda, presented the results of a study establishing the current carbon footprint of the winery is 0.34 kg CO2 per litre of wine produced and its emissions data from electrical consumption is zero.

The report was developed by the auditing company Auren between September 2021 and August 2022 and establishes that the business’s footprint for that specific period amounted to 4,671.94 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. This means that the carbon footprint indicator of the winery corresponds to 0.34 kg CO2 per litre of wine produced — a number which is approximately half of the last one obtained in a similar study.

This progress in reducing Bodega Cuatro Rayas’ carbon footprint goes hand-in-hand with other efforts, where the winery actively supports the natural environment.

As well as continuing with its commitment to organic agriculture and soil and plant-friendly techniques, the winery has a solar farm to minimise the dependence on non-renewable energy; conducts good agricultural practices training for the cooperative members in order to avoid water pollution; and has committed to recyclable and recycled materials for bottling and other tasks in the workplace.

On top of that, last year, Cuatro Rayas passed an internal audit carried out by the certification company NQA, achieving the official standard ISO 14001 for hazard prevention and environmental protection.

Additionally, a roadmap outlining the following steps to be taken in terms of sustainability has been drafted by the same company, including efforts such as registering the carbon footprint, obtaining the ‘Wineries for Climate Protection’ certification, as well as a decarbonisation plan to minimise the environmental impact.

To back up its eco-savvy ethos, Bodega Cuatro Rayas has its own emblem in pursuit of wine-growing and social sustainability named ‘Green & Social’ which is essentially a seal that the winery has stated attests to its commitment to respect both the environment and the well-being of its people.

The cooperative is also actively engaged in other efforts such as equality, generational renewal, or the creation of opportunities in the rural areas and employs over 700 men and women in 30 villages across the provinces of Valladolid and Segovia.