Landscape and vineyards in the PDO “Rueda” (Spain): from differentiation to singularity

Abstract

The wine-growing areas of the Douro river have achieved a great commercial projection under the protection of territorial brands that guarantee their quality in global markets. However, the evolution of consumer preferences and the limits and contradictions of the production models in the vineyard and in the winery, explain the emergence of new differentiation strategies. This article analyses the case of the PDO, where the specificity of its main variety −verdejo− and the investments made to modernise the sector, generated an unusual economic and demographic dynamism in a region where depopulation was widespread. An accelerated growth of vine plantations and wine production and the commercial blockade resulting from COVID-19 have acted as a catalyst in the activation of singularisation strategies. Using participatory methods, the paper explores these processes of change and the role that landscape −as an expression of territorial and viticultural diversity− can play in the marketing of singular wines from La Seca. This municipality, located in the heart of the PDO, stands out for its winemaking tradition and business dynamism, being the most densely wine-growing area in the region of Castilla y León (Spain).