Sustainable Wine

Wine’s original sin, debunking myths, and debating reality

In this podcast Sustainable Wine's Toby Webb is joined by Joe Fattorini, marketing consultant, and Dr Peter Stanbury, head of research, SWR, for an honest conversation on the realities of sustainability. In this first part of a mini-series on debunking myths in wine, they debate trends and facts, and discuss consumer research, myths, hypocrisy, and more.

What will a sustainable vineyard and winery look like in 2030?

This is a recording of a panel session from the SWR Global Conference Series 2023  “The sustainable vineyard and winery in 2030” conference from 3rd May 2023.

What will a sustainable vineyard and winery look like in 2030?

This session offers both a summing up of what we learned during the event, and a look forward into the future. Technology cannot save us, but we know it will help a lot. But cultural change around existing practices also matters. How will these factors combine, in that watershed year of 2030, to change how the sustainable vineyard and winery operate? How will such changes, affect how they relate to the rest of the wine value chain? 

Speakers

• Chris Boiling, Freelance Consultant and Wine Writer 
• Laura Catena, Owner, Catena Institute of Wine
• Julien Gervreau, Founding Board Member, International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA)
• Jason Haas, Partner & General Manager, Tablas Creek 
• Dr. Greg Jones, Chief Executive Officer, Abacela 

Moderator: Dr. Peter Stanbury, Research Director, SWR 

In the winery: Sustainable design, and building efficiency

This is a recording of a panel session from the SWR Global Conference Series 2023  “The sustainable vineyard and winery in 2030” conference from 3rd May 2023.

In the winery: Sustainable design, and building efficiency

It’s clear that applying modern design and thinking to wineries can make them look beautiful. It can also, and usually does, hugely improve energy efficiency. But most wineries don’t get the chance to rebuild from the ground up, given the cost.  So which are the changes which can deliver energy efficiency, whilst reducing climate impacts and saving money  This session features some leading experts to discuss.

Speakers:

• Oscar Bayley, CSR Manager, Famille Perrin
• Marie Fourure, CSR Project Manager, Famille Perrin
• Victoria González-Gordon López de Carrizosa, Chief Sustainability Officer, González Byass
• Carlos Manuel Silva, CEO, Amorim Insulation

Moderator: David Harvey, Raeburn Fine Wines

In the winery: Energy use and Capturing CO2 – should you do it?

This is a recording of a panel session from the SWR Global Conference Series 2023  “The sustainable vineyard and winery in 2030” conference from 3rd May 2023.

In the winery: Energy use and Capturing CO2 – should you do it?

A handful of wineries around the world are capturing and re-using or storing CO2. In this session we ask why, although we know part of the answer (climate change). but also, how much does it cost to do so? What does it cost to capture – and re-use - CO2, and what are the uses for it (in tanks, as a solid) once you have it. In this session we talk to those who’ve been doing it, and put audience questions on the how and why, directly to them.

Speakers:

• Felix Egerer, Viticulturist, Unsworth Vineyards
• Joao Luis Barroso, Sustainability Coordinator, Wines of Alentejo
• Sergio Nicolau, Viticulturist and Agronomist, Orgo Regenerative Biology Management
• Diana Snowden Seysses, Winemaker, Snowden Vineyards

Moderator: James Streeter, Chair, SWR 

In the winery: Water use

This is a recording of a panel session from the SWR Global Conference Series 2023  “The sustainable vineyard and winery in 2030” conference from 3rd May 2023.

In the winery: Water use

We’ve all been to wineries, or worked in them, and seen the endless hoses, doing important work helping managing hygiene and wine quality. But how clear are we about what represents best practice in winery water use? On the one hand no-one likes to waste water, but on the other, it is not always competitively priced, and incentives matter. In this session we consider if there is a knowledge sharing gap, how much water efficiency can save producers, and what role SWR might play.

Speakers

• Nicolas Daspres, Programme Coordinator, Terra Vitis Loire
• Robert Eden, General Manager, Chateau Maris
• Andrés Valero, Sustainability and CSR Leader, Grupo Avinea 

Moderator: Dr. Peter Stanbury, Research Director, SWR 

In the vineyard: Agroforestry and regeneration

This is a recording of a panel session from the SWR Global Conference Series 2023  “The sustainable vineyard and winery in 2030” conference from 3rd May 2023.

In the vineyard: Agroforestry and regeneration

Do vineyard operators understand what agroforestry means for vineyards? How can such practices tackle climate change and add to regeneration? In this session our speakers discuss the benefits and practices that make a difference.

Speakers

• Nicolas Daspres, Programme Coordinator, Terra Vitis Loire
• Etelle Higonnet, Environmental and Human Rights Expert, Chevalier de L'ordre National du Mérite
• Mathieu Meyer, Estate Director, Château Galoupet, (LVMH)

Moderator: Patrick Worms, Senior Science Policy Advisor, CIFOR-ICRAF

In the vineyard: Water and irrigation

This is a recording of a panel session from the SWR Global Conference Series 2023  “The sustainable vineyard and winery in 2030” conference from 3rd May 2023.

In the vineyard: Water and irrigation

“We’ll run out of water before climate change gets us”. So said the owner of a leading Spanish producer at a London event recently. Nothing focuses the minds on climate change quite like extended drought. It’s clear we can’t really separate the two.

So what are the emerging better practices on water and irrigation management? More importantly, how can groups such as SWR enable the sharing of practices and data, so the producer groups can learn, and share, what works in improving practices, and outcomes?

Speakers

• Cecilia Acosta, Agricultural Manager, Grupo Avinea 
• Dudley Brown, Owner and Viticulturist, Inkwell Wines
• Álvaro Martinho Lopes, Winemaker, Real Companhia Velha 
• Sushma Shankar, Co-Founder & COO, Deep Planet

Moderator: James Streeter, Chair, SWR

In the vineyard: How does sustainability regenerate vineyards without organics?

This is a recording of a panel session from the SWR Global Conference Series 2023  “The sustainable vineyard and winery in 2030” conference from 3rd May 2023.

In the vineyard: How does sustainability regenerate vineyards without organics?

Those who work in sustainable viticulture know that organics are not the solution to sustainable vineyards at scale. So without spending our time knocking organics, we focus this session on answering the question: “What does sustainability in vineyards, at scale, look like?” SWR has a working group of leading large scale producers looking at this. We consider their views and have an interactive discussion.

Speakers

• Stephen Cronk, Chairman of Trustees, Regenerative Viticulture Foundation
• Bruno Le Breton, Owner & Winemaker, BLB Vignobles
• Michele Manelli, Owner & Winemaker, Salcheto Winery
• Dr. Charles 'Merf' Merfield, Merfield Agronomy Ltd 

Moderator: David Harvey, Raeburn Fine Wines 

What are the regulatory, business case, and investor drivers for sustainability?

This is a recording of a panel session from the SWR Global Conference Series 2023  “The sustainable vineyard and winery in 2030” conference from 3rd May 2023.

What are the regulatory, business case, and investor drivers for sustainability?

Large wine retailers, as high profile companies exposed to climate risk, investor interest and millions of customers, understand the drivers for sustainability change. But smaller companies, outside some large producer groups in wine, face less scrutiny and pressure. Our panel discusses how the business case for sustainability is moving from larger to smaller companies in wine, and what can be done to turn ‘business drivers’ into commercial opportunity.

Speakers

• Stephanie Duboudin, Interim CEO, Winevictoria
• Marcus Ihre, Sustainability Manager, Systembolaget 
• Andrew Gale, Director of Technical & Sustainability, Enotria & Coe
• Gregoire Letort, Founder, Stealth Mode 

Moderator: Caroline Hermann MW 

Can sustainability make vineyards and wineries more profitable? Practical examples

This is a recording of a panel session from the SWR Global Conference Series 2023 “The sustainable vineyard and winery in 2030”  conference from 3rd May 2023.

Can sustainability make vineyards and wineries more profitable? Practical examples

In this opening session, we avoid cliched leadership speeches and dive right into real life practical examples of HOW sustainability in practice has delivered for wine businesses, both in the fields and in production.

Speakers:

• Dom de Ville, Director of Sustainability and Social Impact, The Wine Society 
• Victoria González-Gordon López de Carrizosa, Chief Sustainability Officer,
  González Byass
• Marta Mendonca, Manager, Porto Protocol

Moderator: Wendy Narby, Wine Educator and Founder, Insider Tastings