The Wines of Alentejo Sustainability Program (WASP) was, this Monday, the date on which the World Environment Day was marked, distinguished in the Green Awards, an initiative of the magazine Visão, in partnership with the group Águas de Portugal, which aims to award individual people, companies and organizations that stand out in Portugal in the area of the environment.

This year, the award in the “Action” category was awarded to the initiative in the area of sustainability by the Alentejo Regional Winegrowing Commission (CVRA). The initiative is divided into 10 categories and, according to the organizers, aims to “recognize, disseminate and reward good practices and examples of excellence that stand out for their contribution to the environment and sustainable development within the framework of the current climate emergency.”

“It is with great pride that we receive this award, which places the wine sector and the Alentejo at the forefront with regard to the implementation of policies and measures that allow the Alentejo viticulture to be carried out in an environmentally conscious, socially responsible and economically viable way” , points out João Barroso, program coordinator, recalling that “the WASP already has 638 associated members, representing more than 58% of the vineyard area of Alentejo.”

The quality and originality of the project, the impact on society and the potential for replication were some of the evaluation criteria for the candidates and through which the jury's decisions were unanimously taken. It should be recalled that WASP, for promoting more sustainable practices at an environmental, social and economic level in Alentejo vineyards and wineries, has already been distinguished with numerous international awards, from “The Drinks Business Green Awards”; the European Business Promotion Awards, an initiative of the European Commission and coordinated, in Portugal, by IAPMEI; the title of European Ambassador for Rural Innovation for the LIAISON project, a European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability, also launched by the European Commission; and also with the “Sustainability Initiative Award” from the IRGAwards, an initiative of Deloitte.