Álava approves provincial grants to conserve historical and remarkable vineyards

The Governing Council of the Provincial Council of Álava has approved Provincial Decree 33/2026, of September 29, which approves the regulatory bases for a specific aid intended to promote the conservation and maintenance of historical and remarkable vineyards in the Historical Territory of Álava, as well as its call for applications for the 2026 financial year. The decision is published in the Official Gazette of the Historical Territory of Álava (BOTHA) on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, number 115, in section I, within the section of the Department of Agriculture of the Provincial Council of Álava. The regulation is expected to directly affect wineries and grape growers in Rioja Alavesa and the rest of the Álava territory.

The text is part of the provincial policy for the protection of old vineyards, which the institution itself describes as a fundamental part of the productive complex of Rioja Alavesa and as an element that differentiates the region within the Rioja Designation of Origin. According to the background information published by the Department of Agriculture, these vineyards constitute agricultural systems of high natural value and a reservoir of genetic material and biodiversity, with plants highly adapted to adverse climatic conditions; their rusticity, low productivity, and high diversity also make them a relevant factor in the production of wines of differentiated quality.

A catalog with three categories

The aid is based on the Catalog of Historical and Remarkable Vineyards of the Historical Territory of Álava, the regulation of which was approved by Provincial Decree 25/2026, of July 14, published in the BOTHA on July 22, 2026. That regulation maintained the cataloging procedure and the general valuation criteria, but incorporated new categories and required the adaptation of catalogings carried out prior to its entry into force.

The categories included in the catalog are:

• Old
• Remarkable
• Notable

The list of cataloged vineyards

The current cataloging was formalized through Provincial Order 256/2026, of August 20, published in BOTHA number 98, of August 28, 2026 (reference 2026-02491). This order reviewed and updated previous catalogings and approved the inclusion of the vineyards listed in its annex.

The annex details the following data for each vineyard:

• Holding code and number of vineyards (RV).
• Associated plots (RV).
• Cataloged area, expressed in square meters.
• Technical report and assigned category.
• Proposed registration number in the catalog.
• Date of inclusion, set for August 14, 2026.

The areas included in the list range from plots of slightly over 600 square meters to vineyards of more than 27,000 square meters. The order was signed by the Provincial Deputy for Agriculture, Noemí Aguirre Quintana, and by the Director of Agriculture, David Fernández Sarabia.

Regulatory Background and Appeals Process

The protection of old vineyards stems from Provincial Decree 16/2025, of May 20, which established the cataloging criteria and measures under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture. Following this, Provincial Order 350/2025, of October 23, and Provincial Order 377/2025, of November 5, were processed, which cataloged various vineyards and were subsequently replaced by the 2026 order.

Against Provincial Order 256/2026, which concludes the administrative process, an optional appeal for reversal may be filed before the same body within one month from the day following its publication, or a contentious-administrative appeal may be filed before the Contentious-Administrative Section of the Court of First Instance of Vitoria-Gasteiz within two months.

With the 2026 call, the Provincial Council of Álava provides specific funding for the maintenance of a viticultural heritage it considers irreplaceable: the old vineyards of Rioja Alavesa and the rest of the territory. For wineries and grape growers, the regulation opens the way to compensate for the cost of preserving plantations with low productivity but high genetic and landscape value, in a context where the Rioja Designation of Origin competes for the differentiation of its wines.

Source: Official Gazette of the Historical Territory of Álava (BOTHA), no. 115, October 7, 2026, section I (official reference: Provincial Decree 33/2026).