GRAPEVINE HONEY
On Bees and the Importance of Biodiversity in the Vineyard
Flora and fauna play a decisive role in the health of a vineyard. Not only do they provide a natural sanitary network for the vines, but they enrich, unite, and nourish the green lungs of the region—a source of life, and a way of ensuring our future.
Understanding and maintaining their respective habitats is not an option, but a responsibility for all of us who live off the land and its fruit.
[NEW] In collaboration with local beekeepers, Familia Torres presents its very own grapevine honey, made from the various hives that exist on the Mas La Plana estate.
Jar of Mel de vinya – Mas La Plana flower honey
Mas La Plana, Purgatori, and Mas de la Rosa are among the main estates where Familia Torres has undertaken a variety of actions based on the particular characteristics of each terrain, although certain contexts are common to all three. The introduction of wildlife corridors, cover crops, insectaries and insect hotels, presence of bees, nesting boxes, natural pools, reforestation of woodlands and slopes encourage biodiversity and make it possible to maintain a landscape mosaic that transcends the merely aesthetic.
A bee in the Mas La Plana vineyard in D.O. Penedès
The conservation of honey bee hives on the Mas La Plana and Mas de la Rosa estates contributes to greater biodiversity and helps this increasingly endangered species. The parasitic mite, Asian hornet, and climate change (through a decrease in blossoms, drought, etc.) are having a serious impact on honey bee populations. Intensive farming and pesticide use also adversely affect these bees, which is why Familia Torres foregoes the use of these methods.
By contrast, regenerative agriculture, especially the introduction of permanent cover crops, is beneficial to bees, because it provides them with a greater number and variety of flowers, which would otherwise be tilled into the ground. Likewise, organic farming techniques, which are far more sustainable, such as controlling the presence of grapevine moths (sexual confusion), avoid harm to the honey bee.
Bees are our allies and help us by pollinating these cover crops and other plant species commonly found in our fruit orchards and vegetable gardens.
Among the biggest threats to honey bees is the Asian hornet, an invasive species which arrived from Asia a few years ago. These hornets are very harmful to the natural balance of biodiversity, because they feed on all kinds of insects. They are especially dangerous to honey bees, because they prey on their hives, causing high levels of stress. In an act of self-defence, the bees stay in the hive and end up dying from a lack of food.
At Mas La Plana, the bees provide us with flower honey from countless blossoms: grapevines, sown cover crops, white wallrocket, weeds growing along the edges, shrubs, trees along the wildlife corridor, various aromatic plants, ivy, even from the ornamental garden plants, almond and olive trees which grow on the estate.
Mas La Plana vineyard, a Familia Torres property, in D.O. Penedès
To care for these hives and produce the honey, Familia Torres has joined forces with local beekeepers through common good agreements.
The grapevine honey from the Mas La Plana hives is available for sale at the Visitors Centre located on the estate.
Birds and insects, small mammals, amphibians, and an abundance of flowers interact and need one another to nourish the entire food chain, which brings us life and wine. Understanding and maintaining their respective habitats is not an option, but a responsibility for all of us who live off the land and its fruit. Here’s to honey, wine, and life!