OG UBAVIDA. Sustainable strategies from the vineyard to the winery for obtaining Grapes with Low Sugar Concentration and Dealcoholized Wine 

UBAVIDA is a Supra-regional Operational Group whose goal is to produce a new range of wines with lower alcohol content — but with organoleptic properties similar to their alcoholic counterparts — through innovation and sustainability from grape cultivation to the dealcoholization process. It arises from the interest shown by wineries and research centers in seeking and applying the best protocols to obtain high-quality dealcoholized wines. 

To achieve this, UBAVIDA aims to define the necessary processes and products to produce wines with lower alcohol content. The project will evaluate practices that help address climate change, as rising temperatures cause stress in vineyards and lead to grape ripening with an imbalance between sugar content and aromatic precursors and polyphenolic composition. The optimal harvest time will be determined to enhance the presence of aromatic and polyphenolic precursors in grape varieties with lower sugar content, and the application of kaolin and its effect on minimizing thermal stress in the plant will be studied. Both conventional and organic winemaking processes for low-sugar grapes will be investigated, and microorganisms will be selected to optimize winemaking and barrel-aging processes. 

UBAVIDA will also assess the use of new dealcoholization techniques and the addition of oenological products that help harmonize dealcoholized wines. Furthermore, phenolic, aromatic, and bioactive compounds, along with physicochemical parameters, will be monitored from grape to dealcoholized wine. 

The results of UBAVIDA will have a significant impact on the sector. On one hand, UBAVIDA will produce technical reports that provide a comprehensive overview for official bodies and regulators on the best practices for obtaining non-alcoholic wines. On the other hand, UBAVIDA will contribute to modernizing agriculture, addressing climate change, and improving the competitiveness of the sector by producing an innovative and sustainable product such as dealcoholized wine. 

UBAVIDA aims to develop a new range of dealcoholized wines through a comprehensive approach involving new agronomic and agricultural practices, improved technological processes in the winery, and innovative and sustainable dealcoholization techniques. To this end, UBAVIDA outlines the following specific objectives: 

• Selection of grapes, agricultural practices, and microorganisms to reduce wine alcohol content. 

• Improve dealcoholization processes to preserve wine properties. 

• Compare sensory profiles of the grape, wine, and dealcoholized wine. 

• Implement tools to maintain biological, sensory, and chemical stability. 

• Characterize dealcoholized wines comprehensively. 

• Evaluate the bioactivity of non-alcoholic wines vs. original alcoholic wines. 

• Simulate gastrointestinal digestion and identify and quantify bioactive phenolic metabolites. 

• Study the sensory quality and consumer acceptability of the produced wines. 

Expected results of the UBAVIDA project: 

• Obtain grapes with lower sugar content and determine the optimal harvest time. 

• Define vinification conditions for low-sugar grapes. 

• Produce dealcoholized wines with sensory and bioactive profiles similar to the original wines. 

• Optimize dealcoholization processes to retain original wine properties. 

• Compare polyphenolic and aromatic components from grape to dealcoholized wine. 

• Define tools to ensure chemical, biological, and sensory stability of the wines. 

• Determine bioactive compounds in dealcoholized wines vs. wines with alcohol. 

• Identify legal barriers in the production of dealcoholized wines. 

• Conduct sensory analysis of the newly developed wines compared to commercial wines. 

Consult the project information brochure in: Spanish / English 

Check the project activities in: Spanish / English 

The Operational Groups, key actors in the implementation of the EIP-Agri (European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability), are one of the main tools for executing the Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023–2027. They bring together stakeholders from various backgrounds with common interests , such as farmers, livestock breeders, companies, research centers, training institutions, and outreach organizations, who collaborate on innovation projects to provide joint, multisectoral solutions to a problem or need. 

This innovation project falls under the Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023–2027 and is funded 80% by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) of the European Union and 20% by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA). The Dirección General de Desarrollo Rural, Innovación y Formación Agroalimentaria (DGDRIFA) is the authority responsible for managing these grants. 

Total project budget: €607,342.27

Total grant: €599,741.95