Nowadays if you want to plant vines, you are almost forced to choose an area within a given designation of origin. This happens basically because we tend to believe that the rules set out by the different designations of origin ensure the production of quality wines in that region. But let’s put a question: why do those rules take soil surface as a measure of production?If we analyse the origin of the organic matter of the plant’s body and of the grapes, we will see that if we eliminate water from the plant and study the composition of the dry matter, we are left with a minimum percentage of salt minerals coming from the soil and the rest, over 99%, accounts for organic matters such as sugar, fat, proteins, etc. The basic molecule from which all organic molecules derive is glucose, which is a product of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is carried out through the leaf surface. The also-called chlorophyll function uses sun energy, CO2 from the atmosphere, and water to produce glucose. But in spite of this reflection, the rules and norms of the DOs force us to produce “kilograms per unit of soil surface” and they do not take into account the productive capacity according to folliar surface, not at all.
Let us have a look at reality and let us analyse the obstacles that those regulations impose on us in order to be competitive on the market in relation to quality and productivity. Let’s compare a conventional plantation and one in Serra Alta de Martinet.

 It is obvious that there is a difference in the potential for production between the two properties but the regulations maintain that production has to be measured according to kg/ha.

The goals we pursue with this type of plantation are:

• Construct narrow terraces and plant just a row on each terrace in order not to alter the natural relief and diminish the visual impact.
• Increase production and reduce space
• Control quality and reduce production costs.

We believe it is obvious that the aforementioned goals have an environmental, social, and economic value. So we cannot consider them to be the result of a technological whim. We should not forget the little advances that some viticulturalists are applying at a personal level but also at a more general level in order to help the region to evolve towards quality and cost-effectiveness. As a final reflection, I would like to describe a personal experience that can illustrate our recommendation.

Back in the 70s I was studying Human Biology at the University of Geneva. For my final project I used statistical methods to have my data treated and we were lucky enough to use the university’s computer to do the calculations. The mainframe computer occupied a whole thermostated room and the data was stored in punched cards. After 37 years nobody would ever think of denying the importance of the first mainframes but nobody would ever think of using the same computers now.

Josep Lluís Pérez