Sustainability model: the case of the Guatambu winery

Abstract

The Guatambu Winery, located in the heart of Pampa Gaúcho, municipality of Dom Pedrito, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, has small scale wine production, with its own grape production and sustainable practices. Model in production of fine wines, at regional and national level, the winery that has already won numerous awards in European competitions, with sustainable management the great differential of its production. Its vineyards are cultivated using modern techniques of pest management and thermal control, aiming at higher fruit quality and consequently wine. The average production of grapes is limited to 7 tons per hectare where all this production is harvested manually, aiming at the excellence of the fruit. Innovating on the continental level, in May 2016 Guatambu became the first winery in Latin America to be 100% solar powered, with installation of photovoltaic panels, generating enough energy to guarantee all the demand of the enterprise. In addition to generating its own energy, their approach to sustainability includes factors such as reduction of CO2 emission, to pass the conventional electric grid to unused energy and to use the structures of the solar panels as covered parking of vehicles. Another factor that highlights the sustainability of the winery is the water supply, which is collected from rain through gutters, reservoirs and sent to a treatment plant, producing up to 500 liters of drinking water per hour, which will be used in the industrial and wine tourism complex installed on the property.