The controversy over the authorization of the Rueda Designation of Origin of the Godello grape, originally from Bierzo and the main one in its white wines, became one of the topics of conversation this Sunday during the celebration in the Leonese city of Ponferrada of the XLVI. Bierzo Day and the feast of the Virgen de la Encina.
The region’s big day events were the chosen setting for the Minister of the Environment, Juan Carlos Suárez-Quiñones de Leónto decide on an issue with which the regional government remains with all possible caution, given that what in principle could be considered a technical issue has become political and, above all, serves, once again, as an argument for the confrontation between two provinces. In fact, the only public statements so far have been those of the spokesman and head of Economy and Finance, Carlos Fernández Carriedo, who last Thursday referred to the regulations in force, questioned by journalists after the Government Council.
Quiñones went a little further today, but not much, since he used the same argument to justify the decision of the Agrarian Technological Institute, dependent on the Ministry of Agriculture, to authorize Rueda to use the godello grape as a secondary grape variety, along with seven others, in the production of its wines, although in no case can it exceed 25 percent of the production. The fact is that Suárez-Quiñones defended in Ponferrada the authorization granted by the regional government. “We only respect the law,” said the councilor, for whom “it is a controversy that arises within two entities that have statutes that they modify and the Council only controls the legality of what they do.” It is not possible to act on the basis of other criteria,” reports Ical.
For this reason, he assured that the only way out for DO Bierzo is the presentation of “an appeal against the possible decisions that have been taken”. However, he added that the regulatory councils “are entities with their autonomy” so “it is not the Council, it is the designations of origin and we only control the legality”, he concluded.
Ponferrada was also the destination of the regional secretary of the PSOE, Luis Tudançawho raised the same issue, although he was much more explicit and openly spoke out against the Board of Directors’ decision to allow Rueda to label with Godello grapes. “I don’t understand why the Commission is trying to ruin things that work,” said the socialist leader, who sent “a message of support to all producers of the Bierzo Designation of Origin.” Tudanca praised the excellent work carried out in recent years by these winemakers to position the wines of this variety at the forefront of the market and with great recognition at the national level. “This cannot be done without dialogue, reducing the work capacity and competitiveness of such a powerful designation of origin,” he denounced, expressing his hope that “this problem is resolved as soon as possible.” “It is time to be united in defense of Bierzo,” he shouted.
