Casa Américo Wines/Seacampo Lda obtained Zero Waste certification for the Quinta do Paço vineyard (Portugal), becoming the first oenological vineyard in the Iberian Peninsula to be certified by ZERYA®. At ZERYA® we guarantee that it is possible to produce safe and profitable food through a sustainable production system that respects the environment and is capable of satisfying the needs of consumers.

The inclusion of vines in zero residue is a fundamental step forward because these are very complex species from a phytopathological point of view and quite sensitive. To achieve zero residue in the vineyard we must combine the work of phytopathological control and nutrition. We cannot achieve Zero Residue in vineyards simply by using plant pathological products, we must combine them with nutrition. Balanced nutrition is necessary and it is this that will lead to an optimisation of inputs, because any excess will have a negative impact on the balance needed to achieve zero waste production.

This certification marks the way for other vineyards. Casa Américo’s know-how has become a benchmark in the modernisation and upgrading of production processes in the wine sector and demonstrates that the model of vineyards without pesticide residues is viable and desirable. The Ing. Luís Sousa, head of viticulture at Casa Américo Wines, started the process in 2019 on a small 1ha plot in Touriga Nacional. This first phase of the process lasted three years. Only Resido Cero products were used for the treatment of the vines. During the process there was more rigorous and frequent monitoring of the vineyard. In the fourth year, after a positive evaluation, it was decided to extend it to the rest of the farm. Thus, Luís Sousa says that compared to previous years, when phytopharmaceuticals were used, the results he obtained were very positive. Zero Waste certification is not limited to the specific use of certain products, but also includes the management of flora, fauna and rainwater. For these reasons, Quinta do Paço was selected to start this process, due to the pre-existing infrastructures that facilitated this management. Some examples of this management. are: the existence of terrace walls that serve as protection for snakes and lizards, small forests that allow the creation of refuge areas for animals, gardens with lavender hedges and others capable of attracting pollinators, natural grass that allows greater infiltration, and the possibility of directing rainwater for later use in irrigation. A vineyard with Zero Waste certification is more sustainable, because it uses all resources more efficiently, contributing to a smaller ecological footprint and promoting biodiversity. In the case of vineyards, since this crop is so deeply rooted in the territory, reducing the pesticide load is very beneficial for the ecosystem.

Casa Américo Wines currently has two objectives related to Zero Waste certification, the first is to consolidate the entire Quinta do Paço process and then extend it to other properties. The second is the Zero Waste certification process for Quinta do Paço wines. This process is already underway and we soon expect the first Zero Waste wine to be a Vinha de Púcaros Touriga Nacional. Quinta do Paço, located in Nespereira, Gouveia (Portugal), has around 15 ha of vineyards and has a diversity of red and white grape varieties typical of the Serra da Estrela Subregion, in the Dão Region. It is one of Casa Américo Wines’ most beautiful estates and is now also the most sustainable, producing grapes free of pesticide residues.

Zero Waste certification according to the ZERYA® standard defines a production free of residues, with a minimum pesticide limit of less than <0,01 ppm. This means obtaining an analysis of the final product without quantifiable active substances/pesticides. Zero Waste certification allows combining the use of phytopharmaceutical products of chemical and biological origin (including auxiliary fauna and biotechnological control), as long as a quality product free of pesticide residues is obtained. Zero Waste certification, a ZERYA® standard, is only obtained in waste-free production. If you are interested in certifying your products with us or want to know more about our protocols and control systems, you can contact us via email consultas@zerya.org or +34 960 098 792