“In 1990, it was estimated that 2.0 billion people were living below the extreme poverty line – 38% of the world population at the time. Poverty reduced during the Millennium Development Goals’ (MDGs) era (between 2000–2015 especially), demonstrating the power of concentrated global efforts; in fact, the goal (to reduce extreme poverty by half) was achieved in 2011, four years ahead of schedule.
In 2019 (the most recent year for which global estimates from the World Bank are available), 660 million people were living in extreme poverty – 8.5% of the world population. In 2020, that number increased and was estimated to be at 733 million; in 2022, it was estimated to have decreased to 682 million.”
Source: UN World Population Prospects and IMF World Economic Outlook. Forecasts begin in 2020.
These figures, over ten per cent of the world’s population, while stark, are encouraging, showing that global efforts to reduce poverty are working.
In the DOCa Rioja, several wineries are carrying out long term cooperation projects to do their part in this struggle to improve the lot of the disadvantaged.
Bodegas La Rioja Alta-17 years supporting agricultural projects in the third world
Every year since 2007, Bodegas La Rioja Alta en Haro sets aside 1% of its net corporate profit, with a guaranteed miimum of 100,000 €, to support agricultural projects run by NGOs in the third world.
The winery has created a selection committee made up of a board member, shareholders and employees, creating an atmosphere of solidarity that permeates the entire company.
In a recent interview, Maite de Aranzábal, a member of the founding family, explains the philosophy behind the company’s projects and what they help achieve:
“Wealth, food, employment and even a good climate are unjustly distributed throughout the world. Much more money is needed to promote even minimal opportunities to so many unfortunate people. But if only private citizens and companies around the world followed our initiatives! The world would be more egalitarian, with fewer wars and fewer immigrants who have to leave behind their homes and put their possessions in a sack…
These projects feed many families and allow them to send their children to school, something very important. They also empower women, allowing them to earn money. But we have to understand that these are societies where people often don’t know how to read, know arithmetic, save for unexpected expenses or investments and of course, where no one will lend them money. This is what our projects achieve: they teach little by little, how to calculate and manage, they provide microloans, and take water to villages. Besides, they teach more profitable crop cultivation techniques that do not deplete the soil. When there is excess production, they’re taught how to bring them to market…The third phase, where we have succeeded in quite a few projects, is to set up associations or coops. Getting people to agree, to work together, and to manage projects to make them more efficient and profitable…”
La Rioja Alta invites board members, shareholders, employees and persons outside the company to contribute to the success of the project via +34 941 310 346 or mail.
Maite de Aranzábal, coordinator of the Viña Ardanza Solidarity Committee. Photo: Grupo La Rioja Alta S.A.
Bodegas Muga and the ‘Club of the 300’: Six Projects since 2012 that help to solve problems faced in third world countries – and Spain
The Club of the 300 started with the Muga family seated around a table during a meal where, during dessert, they started thinking about ideas to help make the world a better place. They came up with the idea of making between 1800 and 2000 bottles of a unique wine that they would offer to a group of 300 wine lovers who shared the family’s values of generosity, empathy and the desire to help the disadvantaged.
The family sought the help of the Cuentasueños (Dreamtelling) Foundation to select projects coordinated by NGOs and to assure that the funds were used to carry them out.
Central to each project is a “Dreamer”, a local whose role is to help the project to benefit the local community.
A member of the Muga family and a representative of the Cuentasueños Foundation visit each project to help make it come to life.
To date, the Club of the 300 has carried out six projects:
- 2012 in Ethiopia: Wine for Water: Assuring the supply of drinking water in a neighborhood in Addis Ababa.
- 2014 in Haiti: Wine for Education: collaborating with the secondary education branch of APJ (Artists for Peace and Justice) made up of Hollywood actors and actresses who provide scholarships for students to finish their secondary school studies and thus have access to universities.
- 2015 in the Philippines: Wine for Children’s Rights: providing finance for two centers for homeless children and adolescents.
- 2017 in Benin: Wine for Life: Benin has one of the world’s highest infant mortality rates. The project supported funds for a nutrition center and a Maternity annex for newborns.
- 2020 in Spain: Wine for our Heroes: During the Covid-19 pandemic, the club provided financing for the purchase of masks and sanitary gel for hospitals in La Rioja, Guipúzcoa and Madrid as well as for the Spanish Armed Forces and old-age residences.
- 2023 in Spain: Wine for Research: The project provided financing for research toward treatment and a cure for infantile cerebral cancer.
‘Club de los 300’ Wine for Research: Muga collaborates with the Cancer Research Innovation Spain Foundation to advance the treatment and cure of childhood brain cancer. Photo: Bodegas Muga.
Bodegas Eguren Ugarte: 12 months, 12 wines, 12 causes
Bodegas Eguren Ugarte: 12 months, 12 wines, 12 causes devotes 20% of the sales price of one of its ‘reserva’ wines each month to help people in need.
The project was the brainchild of Vitorino Eguren, founder of the winery, who called it “Las causas de Vitorino” (Vitorino’s causes).
The March 2024 project ‘King Jorge’ supported a child suffering from severe malnutrition that has produced cerebral palsy. Jorge needs both physical and speech therapy. The April project is is aimed at acquiring the necessary equipment to improve the quality of life of children affected by Hulter’s syndrome.
Amnong other illnesses that benefit from the support of ‘12 months, 12 wines, 12 causes’ are butterfly skin disease, the STXBP1 Syndrome, Hunter’s Syndrome, the extremely rare genetic mutation NEK8 and Angelman Syndrome.
The founder of Eguren Ugarte, Vitorino Eguren, who lived his life helping others, has bequeathed us his unbreakable spirit, inspiration for work, and his solidarity projects that he named as ‘Vitorino’s causes’. Photo: Eguren Ugarte.
These projects are a source of pride and accomplishment for the wineries and Rioja wine, contributing in a small way globally, but in a big way for the companies themselves.
Text by Tom Perry, Inside Rioja
Featured photo: Bodegas Muga
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