The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Sustainable Development, Carmen Crespo, has valued the “historic agreement” reached by the representatives of the organizations that are part of the Regulatory Council of Protected Designations of Origin (PDO) ‘Jerez-Xérès- Sherry ‘and’ Manzanilla-Sanlúcar de Barrameda ‘to unlock the update of the specifications of these Cadiz quality mentions.
As indicated by the Board in a note, Crespo has pointed out that “where there is unity there is always a victory” and has been convinced that this “show of generosity and responsibility” on the part of the professionals who confirm the Jerez Framework “will to increase the commercial possibilities “of its products.
Carmen Crespo has received in Sanlúcar de Barrameda (Cádiz) the minutes of this agreement, which provides “optimism” at a time marked by the covid-19 pandemic that has affected the wine sector, in general, and “especially, the quality sector “, due to the closure of the Horeca channel (Hospitality, Restoration and Catering) and the suspension of popular festivals and fairs.
“The wineries needed help and we have taken them out”, pointed out the counselor to recall that, in addition, “now a call has been opened for wine farmers”. These statements refer to the first call for extraordinary aid for professionals who had suffered the most from the impact of covid-19, which included wineries, and to the incentives made available to professionals dedicated to the vineyard and horse breeders. in 2021 within the framework of the Andalusian Rural Development Program (PDR).
Along with Carmen Crespo, the mayor of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Víctor Mora; the president and CEO of Bodegas Barbadillo, Manuel Barbadillo and Víctor Vélez, respectively; the president of the Regular Council of Jerez Wine, César Saldaña; and representatives of the Sanlúcar de Barrameda Winery Association, the Marco de Jerez Winery Federation (Fedejerez), Asaja and Agro-food Cooperatives.
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“Fino and Manzanilla are icons of the Spain Brand and the Andalusia Brand”, asserted Carmen Crespo, who has emphasized that “these products have no barriers” and have “incredible possibilities” of business, as has been demonstrated by overcoming “an obstacle like Brexit.”
In addition, the counselor has commented that, according to data from the first quarter of 2021, Andalusia has exported wines and brandy from Jerez to the United Kingdom worth 8.6 million euros.
In the same area, the Minister of Agriculture praised the commitment of Marco de Jerez professionals to reach the Eastern countries, “where the Fino and Manzanilla will have a special opportunity”. “They have a large market ahead that we have to conquer together and, with this union, we are going to achieve it,” he asserted.
In his intervention, Crespo has valued the relevance of the Jerez Framework as a productive area at Andalusian level, both commercially and culturally and the traditional character of its production, which is carried out through a very long unique aging system. .
Regarding the PDO ‘Jerez-Xérès-Sherry’ and ‘Manzanilla-Sanlúcar de Barrameda’, the counselor has pointed out that they protect fine wine and manzanilla “of excellence” and that they bring together around 1,750 farmers who cultivate some 7,000 hectares of vineyards located in nine municipalities of Cádiz and Seville (Jerez de la Frontera, El Puerto de Santa María, Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Chiclana de la Frontera, Chipiona, Trebujena, Rota, Puerto Real and Lebrija).
The counselor has also referred to the relevance of the Jerez Framework in the field of employment, since it groups some 100 wineries, whose workforce exceeds 1,500 people and has a large auxiliary industry that includes companies in charge of bottling or wine labeling to entities that offer wine tourism initiatives.
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