Clustering ans sustainability: An approach from the Spanish wine sector and its designations of origin

Abstract

The main objective of this article is to offer an approach to the role of the wine sector in general
and that of the wine designations of origin (PDOs), as an exponent of cluster at a territorial
scale, in particular, in relation to sustainability, considering the limited detailed quantitative
information available and the qualitative information gathered from interviews with some
highly qualified people linked to this branch of activity.
To this end, the paper is structured in four sections. The first, of an introductory nature,
highlights the importance of the Spanish Agro-food Industry and its PDOs, emphasizing the
relevance of the wine sector within it. The second provides a characterization of the main
wine PDOs, which can be classified as LPSs or territorial clusters. The third section details
the main activities and actions which, throughout the wine sector value chain, have a positive
impact from the point of view of sustainability. The fourth and final section examines the most
relevant aspects of the contribution of wine regions and designations of origin to sustainable
development. The paper ends with the main conclusions drawn from these four sections and
a series of final reflections of interest from the perspective of local sustainable development.
In this sense, it is worth anticipating the importance of PDOs for rural Spain - widely affected
by depopulation and demographic ageing - especially in those territories where wine tourism
appears as an element of productive diversification, as well as the growing link between the
world of wine and environmental sustainability, especially visible through the proliferation of
organic wines and certifications that imply a clear commitment to respect for the environment,
as an intangible asset that provides image and prestige to the wineries.