Spain's Wine Industry Seeks Younger Workers to Ensure Future Sustainability
Spain's wine industry, valued at €22.4bn and contributing about 2% of jobs and 1.6% of GDP, faces a critical challenge in recruiting younger workers to sustain its future.
A report commissioned by OIVE reveals that 22,600 younger workers need to be recruited in the coming years to replace retiring growers, as the current age distribution shows 38.9% of wine-growers aged 51–65, 35% over 65, 16.9% aged 41–50, and only 9.3% under 40.
OIVE president Fernando Ezquerro has warned that without generational replacement, the sector will decline.
The challenge is compounded by rural depopulation, known as la España vaciada, with 84% of Spain's territory being rural but only 15.9% of the population living there, leading to recruitment gaps.
Key solutions include attracting youth, modernising vineyards through improved sustainability and digital skills, and better storytelling about wine.
An example of this new generation of winemakers is Oscar de Íscar, aged 36, a partner and board member at the Cuatro Rayas cooperative in La Seca, Valladolid. Holding a chemical engineering degree and a master’s in winery management, he oversees 60 hectares and represents modernisation efforts.
Cuatro Rayas winery demonstrates this modern approach with consumer-facing shops and professional branding alongside traditional wine production methods.
