In Calle Comerç in Vilafranca del Penedès, the largest community winery incubator in Catalonia has been set up, in terms of dimensions. The objective is for entrepreneurs to be able to start their own wine projects, "providing diversification, differentiation and innovation to the oenological panorama of Alt Penedès".
It houses seven producers from the region, for a maximum period of 4 years. According to the DO Penedès winemaker and adviser to the new winemakers, Lluís Serra, they have chosen viable projects with chances of success, and who are willing to launch a business project.
It has a capacity to enter about 30,000 kilos of grapes, with which each producer can produce between 1,500 and 4,000 bottles per year. The Cortina warehouse, which houses the nursery, has a cellar area, a bottling area, a loading and unloading area, a changing room and toilet area, and a laboratory.
The nursery has been promoted by the Vilafranca City Council, the Regional Council of Alt Penedès, the DO Penedès and the VITEC Wine Technology Park Foundation. A little more than 580,000 euros have been invested initially, with the financial support of the municipality, the Generalitat, the DO Penedès and the Diputación de Barcelona. The mayor of Vilafranca, Francisco Romero, emphasizes that "it is a strategic project that reinforces Vilafranca as the country's wine capital". The president of the regulatory council of DO Penedès, Joan Huguet, is confident that "successful proposals will come out".
