At Bodegas Enrique Mendoza, we are increasingly aware of the dire consequences that climate change will bring in the not-so-distant future and which, in fact, we are already experiencing today: droughts, rising sea levels, devastating wildfires, extreme heat waves, and more.

Fully aware of the importance of acting to confront and mitigate this situation as much as possible—a reality that affects us all—at Bodegas Enrique Mendoza, we have long been committed to and work daily toward environmental sustainability, caring for our surroundings and the natural resources that breathe life into our wines and ensure their quality.

Our initiatives in this area have only increased in recent years, and we are determined to continue this commitment in the future.

We are currently in the midst of the process of converting our vineyards to organic farming, which will bring benefits such as improved natural soil fertility and increased biodiversity in our ecosystem. Additionally, at the beginning of 2020, we completed the construction of a new treatment plant for processing wastewater generated at the winery.

As we mentioned in our post, in February of this year, we completed the installation of photovoltaic panels on the roofs of our facilities, both at our Finca El Chaconero in Villena and at our Winery in Alfaz del Pi, aiming to make both wineries energy self-sufficient.

True to our commitment to the environment and sustainability, we have decided to take another step forward on this path by initiating the process to obtain the Wineries for Climate Protection (WfCP) Certification.

The Wineries for Climate Protection Certification, developed by the Spanish Wine Federation (FEV), is the first environmental sustainability certification specific to our wine sector. This certification recognizes the commitment of wineries implementing sustainability initiatives by focusing on four fundamental pillars:

• Reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
• Responsible water use through efficient management.
• Waste reduction (reduce, reuse, and recycle).
• Use of renewable energy and energy efficiency.

The WfCP certification process, which we are currently undergoing at Bodegas Enrique Mendoza, involves an external evaluation of various aspects of the winery aimed at verifying whether it meets the necessary requirements to be certified.

Once the certification application is completed by the winery and the data provided is verified by the FEV, the process moves to an authorized certifying body. This body conducts an initial validation, analyzing the winery’s compliance with both legal environmental obligations and the specific criteria of the WfCP framework.

Additionally, if the winery does not hold an ISO 14001 or EMAS certification, within a year of obtaining the WfCP certification, it must undergo a follow-up verification. This verification assesses the progress of the plans established to achieve the reduction targets. This second validation, which will not affect the maintenance of the certification, will also be conducted every odd-numbered year after the initial certification is granted.

The Wineries for Climate Protection certification is geared toward the continuous improvement of wineries and their work in the field of sustainability. Certified wineries must undergo a renewal verification every two years, and compliance or non-compliance with the analyzed criteria will determine whether the certification is renewed or revoked.

At Bodegas Enrique Mendoza, obtaining the WfCP certification in the future will provide us with a specific tool to demonstrate, through verification by an independent third party, our strong commitment to the environment, sustainable development, and the efforts made in this area over the years. It will also allow us to communicate this commitment to our consumers, suppliers, and the wider market.

We want to continue improving and working to protect our planet and mitigate climate change. Thanks to the Wineries for Climate Protection certification, we will be able to set annual goals that represent meaningful progress compared to previous years.