Innovation

Since the beginning of their journey, the underground cellars have been an important aspect of Cillar de Silos. In Burgos, Spain where scorching summers can reach 40 degrees and chilly winters can drop to -7 degrees, the temperature in the underground cellar is naturally maintained at 11~12 degrees celsius. The humidity is also kept at 85~90%, crucial for preserving the corks and for the wine to not oxidize. Other risks such as light, noise, and vibration can be eliminated. Through the storing and aging process, the wines blend their characteristics of fruit, acidity, tannins, and oak, producing quality wines with great taste. Other wineries store their wines above ground or semi-underground that need technology to maintain the best environment for the wines.

Despite being a family winery with humble origins, it has been growing significantly. With the amount of wine that they produce each year and the many years the different wines must be preserved, they are able to save a considerable amount of electricity.

Inspiration

The truth is that the motivation for founding the company and choosing such a natural and environmentally responsible process was not exactly to be a sustainable company. This has been more a result of their smart decisions.

As Dave told us in the interview, their business strategy are cost-driven, “reducing the costs of the production process is the key to guide the company's decisions” , i.e. not using as much electricity reduces the electricity bill.

However, this does not imply that Cillar de Silos does not comply with the SDGs explained above. Thanks to their methods, producing “high quality wine, which in many tastings obtains a very high rating”, this winery has a very positive impact on the environment without this being the main objective of their activity.

Overall impact

This company is concerned with using the most natural method possible in its production and preservation of the product, from harvesting and preservation. The mindfulness of nature is constant, something that is reflected in their magnificent results, the quality of their wines.

Most wineries have a large consumption of electricity to achieve the best environmental conditions that the wines need to mature. Cillar de Silos is completely different, achieving an ideal temperature and humidity by storing their products underground. The amount of electricity saved is very significant. It is a clear example of responsible production.

Business benefit

For many wineries, a large part of their expenditure comes from the electricity consumed by the wine preservation rooms. The air conditioning and humidifier require a great deal of energy.

Cillar de Silos does not worry about the electricity bill, since they take advantage of the natural resources at its disposal. Not only are there environmental benefits but economic benefits.

In addition, the fact that the budget does not include this expense allows the money to be invested in other improvements, further improving the product and developing efficiency of the production process.

Social and environmental benefit

We believe that the method used by this winery has a positive impact on both the environment and society for several reasons.

Firstly, it is clear that saving energy is environmentally beneficial. The methods of obtaining and distributing electricity are very polluting, and thanks to the underground storage method, Cillar de Silos reduce the use of energy and therefore reducing pollution.

It also serves as a precedent and a reference for society. The fact that they can obtain high quality wines which use traditional processes demonstrates that there is an alternative to methods that involve a large expenditure of energy. Therefore, companies in the sector can take advantage of this positive innovation, which is also cheaper, and change their strategy. It can definitely make other wineries react and the positive environmental effect of this idea can be replicated.

Interview

Dave Stephan, Exportation