The Ibervitis project’s central objective is to develop a polyclonal selection methodology for plant material in seven Iberian varieties (Albariño, Arinto, Godello, Sercial, Rabo de Ovelha, Rufete, and Tempranillo) in order to establish polyclonal vineyards better adapted to phenomena associated with climate change in Spain and Portugal. Regarding the project status, after the first two years the field selection was completed, and the wineries—led by Bodegas La Horra—are currently establishing the polyclonal base vineyards; the project is entering a key phase, and this work is expected to continue through the end of 2026, applying a methodology grounded in previous research by Elsa Gonçalves (University of Lisbon). As for the expected results, designing clonal blends will make it possible to respond to water stress and diseases, modulate parameters such as alcohol content and acidity, and increase the resilience, stability, and oenological complexity of the vineyard and the wine across vintages, while preserving varietal identity and avoiding excessive genetic uniformity.

The consortium that promotes this project is made up of the Spanish entities Bodegas La Horra (coordinator), Bodega Paco & Lola and Bodega Numanthia, as well as the Portuguese wine group Sogrape and the Portuguese association for the conservation of the vine (PORVID). In addition, it has the support and collaboration of the Higher Institute of Agronomy of the University of Lisbon. It has an expected duration of 36 months. It has a total budget of 904,903 euros, co-financed by the European Union and by the Centre for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI Innovation) with FEDER funds, through the multiregional Operational Programme for Smart Growth 2021-2027.