Characterization of the winegrowers of the major wine regions of Bolivia

Abstract

This paper performs the characterization of the winegrowers of the major wine regions of Bolivia, -Central Valley of Tarija and the Canyon of Cintis- starting by identifying key features and technical differences in both study areas, then building typologies of the main viticultural systems and at the end assessing their sustainability. This in order to develop a consistent base of information to be applied in the formulation of programs that contribute to development and to prevent new failures, happened in the past because the homogeneity of both regions was assumed. The results concluded that Central Valley of Tarija winegrowers are a different production system than the Canyon of Cintis ones because of social, economic and technical differences. Four types of winegrowers of the Central Valley of Tarija were identified; they were called Dual purpose, Micro producers, Table Grape Growers and Wine Grapes Producers. In the Canyon of Cintis, three types could be identified that were called Dual Purpose producers, Producers of other Crops and Producers of traditional wine grapes. The assessment of the sustainability showed that in the Central Valley of Tarija the group reached the highest index value overall sustainability refers to producers of table grapes and the lowest value described dual purpose producers. In the Canyon of Cintis, producers who grow traditional grape varieties obtained the greatest value of the overall sustainability and the double purpose producers who deliver their production to the market of fresh fruit and cellar obtained the lowest value.