The Official Gazette of Canary Islands (BOC) published yesterday the initiation of the process – by the Island Council of Tenerife, through the area of Territorial Planning, Landscape, and Historic Heritage – for the declaration of a Cultural Heritage (BIC) status to the vineyard cultivation system with the braided cordon technique. This initiative includes this model in the category of Traditional Handcrafted Technique. The agricultural gem of the Island is a distinctive system in the region of Valle de La Orotava since the 16th century.
The Island Council
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The island’s president, Rosa Dávila, highlights “the importance” of this tradition of grape cultivation that has been “protected, guarded, reproduced and transmitted by generations” by viticulturists in this northern area of the Island. It is a fundamental element of the agricultural and rural landscape in the midlands and a key element of the cultural identity of the municipalities of La Orotava, Los Realejos, and Puerto de la Cruz. The very image of the cordon and its unique cultural landscape is established as a symbolic element of great value for the entire Valle de La Orotava.
The Municipalities
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The mayor of the town of La Orotava, Francisco Linares, values the initiative that began five years ago, bringing together the three municipalities and the Regulatory Council, “as it should be”, he stresses, to elevate it to the relevant authorities. Linares adds that “there is already research work justifying the request for the declaration of the braided cordon, unique in the world, as a Cultural Heritage”. He emphasizes that “it also protects the primary sector and, specifically, viticulture”. He concludes: “A cultural, economic, and touristic opportunity”. In the same vein, the mayor of Los Realejos, Adolfo González, states that “it is only fair to recognize the braided cordon as a Cultural Heritage for what it represents”. He recalls that “the illustrious citizen, José de Viera y Clavijo, mentioned in the 18th century the particularity of this vine system”. He highlights the interest of “a cultivation technique that has been preserved through generations as a hallmark of the landscape in the Valle de La Orotava and in our municipality”. The vineyard covers more than 90 hectares in Los Realejos (equivalent to around 90 football fields) of agricultural land. Marco González, mayor of Puerto de la Cruz, emphasizes the importance of supporting this process, “a unique hallmark of this region of the Valley that we value from the tourist city to continue promoting this technique among our visitors”. He summarises: “A unique and differentiated product linked to our territory and our landscape”.
Technique and Process
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The Braided Cordon technique is defined as the vine training system through which long vines are formed with intertwined branches from different years. These formations are tied with vegetable or synthetic fibres to create a cord raised from the ground between 60 and 80 centimetres, using wooden or iron forks for this purpose. Tying the cord is the essential task of the system and is done by arching the rods after pruning to maintain shape and direction. This method gives the vines their characteristic shape.
Symbol
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Cultivating in the braided cordon is a symbol of the winemaking tradition in this area of the Island, of the tradition associated with its production, and of the high value placed on maintaining the associated agricultural cultural landscape. Many wineries value the wine from vines on cordons to create specific references. Both the Regulatory Council and the Town Councils of the Valle de La Orotava carry out actions to make it visible and enhance its value.
