Summary
Enrique Barajas, a Doctor of Agricultural Engineering and oenologist at the Technological Agrarian Institute of Castilla y León (Itacyl), has been conducting trials with Piwi hybrid grape varieties since 2018. The interview was published by El Progreso ahead of a technical talk he was scheduled to give in Sober — in the Ribeira Sacra — which explains why a Galician newspaper was profiling a Castilian researcher. His central conclusion is straightforward: Piwi varieties can reduce the use of systemic fungicide treatments by half or more compared to standard Vitis vinifera cultivars, lowering both production costs and the overall chemical load in the resulting wine.
The varieties studied include Piwi crosses linked to Cabernet, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc — such as Cabernet Eidos, Merlot Khorus, Sauvignon Rytos, and Soreli — along with early-stage work involving Godello and Garnacha. Barajas directly addresses confusion around GMOs, explaining that these hybrids come from controlled crossing rather than genetic modification. Even so, the main obstacle is institutional. Each denominación de origen must decide individually whether to allow Piwi varieties, and so far there has been little appetite for change. Champagne approved the white variety Voltis a few years ago as a limited experiment. In Castilla y León, only a small number of bodegas have begun planting trial plots. Barajas describes the response as "modest," which feels like a measured way of putting it.
Our take
The interview clearly delivers its main point: Piwi varieties appear effective, reduce chemical inputs, and offer cost savings. At the same time, it is notably one-sided. Barajas is given space to present his views with little challenge. No regulator, skeptical winemaker, or denominación representative is included. The result reads more like a platform for his perspective than a fully balanced piece of reporting. The clarification around GMOs is particularly useful, as misunderstanding in that area can slow adoption. What the article does not explore, however, is why institutional uptake remains so slow if the agronomic case is as strong as presented. That question is left open.
About the author
Ana Rodil joined El Progreso in 2003, with a background in Advertising and Public Relations rather than agricultural science or oenology. She has covered the Ribeira Sacra delegation since 2005. In this piece, her approach is clear and accessible, though the questions remain relatively soft and non-confrontational.
About the publisher
El Progreso is a family-owned regional daily founded in 1908 and a leading newspaper in Lugo province. Its coverage is generalist and community-focused. The interview follows a familiar local press format: informative and accessible, but not investigative, with limited scrutiny of the subject.