Saving Water in the Desert w/ Joan Esteve, Raimat

Building an entire ecosystem in the desert requires water at its core. With a 3,000-ha property that includes 2,000ha of vineyards, a winery, and a town to support it, Raimat, part of the Cordorniu Group, has been at the forefront of sustainability, particularly with water efficiency. Joan Esteve, General Manager, explains how >€5M of investment has substantially reduced water usage and made the property more sustainable, which in his mind, is leaving it a better place for future generations. 

Detailed Show Notes:  Raimat overviewPurchased in 1914, it was a desert 150km west of BarcelonaContinental climate, no Mediterranean influenceClose to the Pyrenees, water from snow melt~3,000 ha (~7,400 acres) property~2,000 acres of vineyards, ~40% (Pinot Noir, Chardonnay) goes to Cordorniu, rest for Raimat’s still wines (~12M bottles/year)Had to build a town to support farmingWinery and town designed by a disciple of Gaudi100% organic, many sustainability certificationsTons of biodiversity - e.g., releasing Turons (i.e., wild ferrets) to control the rabbit populationSustainability definition - “leaving a better world than how we found it” Founder of Wineries for Climate Protection in Spain - requires 5% average annual water and energy savings Water efficiency projects: Built ~€4M water pipe to replace the channel that supplies Raimat water1m diameter with natural pressureOriginally a > 50-year payback projectSaves 15% water (no evaporation, losses), ~2,700 MWh/year of energy / equivalent to ~1,400 tons CO2/yearIrrigation optimizationDeveloped by Cordorniu Research InstituteDynamically applies water based on differences in soil, grape variety, desired wine style, and vine ageSaves ~10% of waterSpun off company Agropixel to consult other wineries on precision viticulturePartial Root DryingIt uses two irrigation lines and rotates irrigation every 15-20 daysIt makes the vine believe it’s under water stress when it’s not~40% water savings, slightly lower yields, better qualityConducting on ~300ha~20-25% more expensive (mostly additional irrigation line)Total vineyard water savings of ~30% Cellar water optimizationMeasured water consumption in different parts of the wineryFixed leaksUse tools to reduce usage (e.g., hot water vs. cold for cleaning, nozzles for hoses, UV light to disinfect tanks)Total water efficiency investments ~€5.1M (~€4M pipe, ~€1M vineyards, ~€100k cellar) Future efficiency - believes Raimat may need to use more water to offset the impacts of global warming Water from the Pyrenees is not at risk as the region primarily produces corn and alfalfa, which use significantly more water than grapes (~800mm water/year vs. ~150mm for grapes) ROI challenging for sustainability investmentsOwners (now majority owned by The Carlyle Group) usually require < 3-Year payback on investmentsWater pipe investment made by the family as a legacy for future generationsQuality was the main rationale behind water efficiency investmentsAdvice for the industryIt’s good business to be efficientAgriculture is slow, needs longer payback hurdles, and can use quality improvements to justify the investmentThe quality impact is significant; small amounts of compounds can impact the entire production

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