SUMMARY

“WinEra – Fostering EU wine through a new era of specialized training for organic and biodynamic wine-producers in EU” is an Erasmus+ project that aims to enhance the competitiveness of the European wineries through the development of their potential for production and promotion of organic and biodynamic wines. Through an innovative vocational training process, the project will support organic viticulture in Europe, integrating into a common curriculum all aspects concerning the development of organic viticulture (farming techniques, production methods, marketing, communication, ethics & corporate social responsibility).

EXPECTED RESULTS

The expected results of the project are:

  • WinEra Learning Model

  • WinEra Training course

  • WinEra Manual for trainers

  • WinEra e-learning platform with Interactive repository section

  • WinEra Guidebook on certification of organic & biodynamic wine

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

– Enhance the development opportunities and boost the growth potential of EU wineries by entering a market of organic and biodynamic wines;
– Develop specific knowledge and competences in the EU wineries to produce and promote organic and bio-dynamic wines;
– Provide transversal, multidisciplinary and tailor-made training on organic & bio-dynamic wine production and promotion in response to the specific needs of the wineries;
– Remind & develop awareness that the wine is part of the cultural, gastronomic and landscape heritage of the country;
– Increase the support provided to the farmers and wine makers to enter the market of organic wine;
– Encourage the application of organic farming and production approaches among grape-producers & vineyards’ farmers;
– Promote use of sustainable agricultural farming and wine production methods among EU farmers & wineries;
– Promote wider use of organic and bio-dynamic wines among EU customers.

INNOVATION

One of the main objectives of the project is to provide transversal, multidisciplinary and tailor-made training on organic & bio-dynamic wine production and promotion in response to the specific needs of the wineries. Currently, the organic or bio-dynamic wines (OBDWs) are very popular in the markets that score an increase in their demand. Besides, business analysts expect further growth of the organic market with 6% in the next few years. That makes the topic of organic farming, OBDWs production and marketing very up-to-date & relevant to producers’ needs. Although there are some short training courses for students and professionals, they are mostly part of a university program. In addition, these courses are classroom-based and require the presence of the learner during a fixed period on a fixed place, which does not suit wine producers and wineries.

TARGET GROUPS

The main target groups of the project are:

1) Direct target group: OBDWs wineries, OBDWs farmers, New incomers (i.e. new entrepreneurs not coming from the world of agriculture but interested to invest in wine production or in vineyards).
2) indirect target group: local agricultural cooperatives, associations and authorities, organisations working predominantly with wineries & farmers like consultancy companies, professional associations, NGOs, etc., students & youngsters interested in organic farming, professional trainers, different local educational institutions like VET centres, VET providers etc.

ASSOCIATED PARTNERS

The partners have involved several associate partners in the project:

National network of “Agricultural testing spaces” (RENETA)

Communauté de communes du pays de Forcalquier

Estancia Piedra SL bodegas y vinedos

Prada a tope S.A. bodegas y vinedos

Coldiretti Federazione regionale del Molise

CIA – Agricoltori Italiani del Molise

Limassol chamber of commerce and industry

Cyprus employers and Industrialist Federation

Association Istrian de Dignan – Ecomuseum of Vodnjan

Stema Starosel Wine Cellar

Bulgarian Association Of Independent Winegrowers