Bodegas Enrique Mendoza bets on Sustainability

Being respectful of the environment, territory, and landscape is no longer a romantic ideal; it has become a daily habit and an integral part of our DNA. For this reason, it is no surprise that sustainability has gained significant traction this year, particularly due to the coronavirus crisis, which has heightened societal awareness and sensitivity.

Even in the financial sector, the term Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) is now in use. It implies that investments not only consider strictly economic factors but also evaluate environmental and social criteria. Today, it is hard to understand investments that are disconnected from the impacts they may have on our surroundings, landscapes, and territory.

Now is the time to combine environmental, economic, and social responsibility. Small changes are no longer enough, as we are running out of time. The only option now is to CHANGE. If we all adopt this transformation, our society will improve significantly.

For a long time, it seemed necessary to choose between investing sustainably and investing profitably. However, it has now been demonstrated that both goals can be achieved simultaneously.

Since the Paris Agreement to combat climate change was approved in 2015, we at Bodegas Enrique Mendoza have not stopped investing in socially responsible initiatives.

The most significant project for our winery came in 2020, during the State of Alarm. As our activity was considered essential, we were able to continue operating, which allowed us to implement the wastewater treatment plant investment at our Villena winery.

Our location demanded nothing less. Our beloved Finca El Chaconero, which lends its name to one of our most iconic wines, is designated as a Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA) due to its environmental importance. It is a protected area included in the European Union’s Natura 2000 network for its remarkable biodiversity.

Just 2 km away, we find the Lagunas de Villena, a Protected Natural Area where various species can be observed throughout the year, such as Little Ringed Plovers, Black-winged Stilts, Zitting Cisticolas, Great Grey Shrikes, Fan-tailed Warblers, Northern Wheatears, and European Bee-eaters.

Being part of an SPA makes us even more demanding and responsible in the viticulture we practice in this special setting and in how we handle our wastewater. In this case, with water, we aim to be doubly responsible: first, by treating the water and, second, by giving it a second life.

For wastewater treatment, we have relied on the expert advice of Roberto (whom we now consider a family friend). When we had the chance to meet him and he explained how his treatment systems worked, we couldn’t believe the simplicity of the process.

After visiting some of his most emblematic projects in Toledo, Albacete, Ciudad Real, and Murcia, we saw with our own eyes that this system was precisely what we were looking for at our Finca El Chaconero.

And what did we do with the water once it was cleaned? Well, the most important part remained: giving it a second life.

We asked ourselves what the best destination could be, and at Bodegas Enrique Mendoza, where we live for and by nature, we thought that returning it to the place where it was extracted from—the aquifers—was the best option.

To do this, we needed discharge permission from the Confederation. This is a very specific and delicate process because of the importance of discharging water into the underground.

After an extensive bureaucratic process and reviewing our application and technical project, the Confederation authorized us to discharge the water directly—once it was clean and purified—into the aquifer we belong to, the Sierra del Castellar.

Since then, we feel much more useful in this regard. We are closing the loop, contributing to the conservation of our environment. This is even more significant considering that this aquifer is classified as being in “critical condition” due to a water resources deficit, so we are doing our part to improve our local community.

And what will the next Socially Responsible Investment be? Soon, very soon, we will reveal it to you… but for that, we’ll have to walk on the roof… Those of you who follow us on social media (Facebook and Instagram) already know that we like to walk at heights and perform balancing acts.