The Garraf Massif is one of the Mediterranean landscapes most severely affected by forest fires. The major fires of 1982 and 1994 drastically transformed the territory: much of the holm oak woodland disappeared, while garrigue, scrubland and highly flammable grasslands expanded. Added to this are the abandonment of farmland, the spread of pine forests, persistent drought, and a growing urban and tourist pressure that increases the risks associated with scattered housing.

It is in this context that the FireWine initiative was created, aiming to highlight an agroforestry model in which vineyards once again play a central role in fire prevention. Active vineyards and continuous forest management help break the continuity of forest cover and slow the spread of increasingly intense wildfires.

Llopart: Over a Decade Dedicated to Restoring the Forested Landscape

Llopart is one of the wineries most committed to this vision. Its FireWine vineyards lie within the Garraf Natural Park, on the slopes of the Ordal massif. They represent a significant part of the estate, which is also surrounded by more than 330 hectares of forested land.

Since 2010, the winery has carried out continuous forest management: clearing undergrowth, thinning, and other interventions that now total over 100 hectares. The goal is clear: to prevent the forest from encroaching on agricultural areas and to reduce the fuel load that feeds wildfires.

Pere Llopart emphasizes the importance of certifications and support measures that can raise awareness of the territory and its challenges. For him, maintaining a mosaic landscape—combining vineyards, managed forests, open areas and other agricultural uses—is essential to preventing increasingly severe fires.

Mas Candí: A Historic landscape Serving Prevention

In Les Gunyoles d’Avinyonet, Mas Candí cultivates parcels in a fragmented, historically rich landscape. Winemaker and viticulturist Ramon Jané explains that the small plots are bordered by ancient dry‑stone walls, a unique agricultural heritage that gives both the landscape and the wines their distinctive identity.

Last year, with support from the Diputació, the winery cleared five hectares of undergrowth—an essential intervention to reduce forest pressure on the vineyard. It is now working on preparing and expanding certain plots as part of a forest management plan that creates strategic open areas, reinforcing the landscape structure and aligning with similar actions taken by neighbouring winegrowers.

However, Jané points out that mountain parcels alone cannot ensure the economic viability of the winery. The high cost of maintaining terraced vineyards and the pressure from wildlife (especially wild boar and roe deer) require part of this effort to be reflected in the price of the bottles. Mas Candí therefore also cultivates vineyards in the Plana del Penedès (not included in FireWine), creating a balanced model that combines complex heritage parcels with more classic production areas.

Masia La Roqua: Diversity as a Guarantee for the Future

In Olivella, Masia La Roqua combines vineyard cultivation with a broader vision of the territory. The masia — a historic building protected as a Local Cultural Heritage Site (BCIL) under the name Can Suriol — has preserved its traditional agricultural structure for centuries.

Jot Camps explains that the landscape has changed dramatically, and even though the vineyard is now at the core of the estate’s management, the family strives to maintain diverse agricultural and forestry uses—something he considers essential for the future of the Garraf. He stresses the need for fair economic returns for farmers: without active agriculture, it is impossible to maintain the masias, the forests, or the agricultural mosaic that has historically protected the territory.

The importance of this mosaic landscape became evident in June 2022, when a wildfire was stopped thanks to the vineyards of Masia La Roqua, limiting the damage and requiring only the confinement of a few nearby residential areas.

A Model Linking Prevention and Viticulture

FireWine promotes a model in which agricultural work and forest management advance hand in hand. In a territory accustomed to living with fire and still facing its threat, these three wineries of the Garraf demonstrate that active agriculture is more than an economic activity: it is a key tool for building safer, more diverse, and more resilient landscapes

Interview in RTV Vilafranca