Sustainable Wine

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 

Optimising labour and human capital in vineyards and wineries

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 this pre-event workshop, we discuss how the wine sector can tackle important labour and human rights issues in wine. We look at the drivers, incentives and business case to do so, and focus on how SWR can work with members to deliver a practical programme that meets retailers needs whilst focusing on better outcomes for vineyard and winery operators, and their workforce.

Speakers:

• Axel Kollberg, Sustainability Manager - Human Rights in Global Supply Chains,
  Systembolaget
• Anu Kultalahti, Researcher, Finnwatch
• Timothy Gore, Director, Sustainability Advisory (Climate, Circular Economy &
  Human Rights), KPMG
• Jimena Sanchez, Network Representative, Amfori
• Stefano Stefanucci, Director, Equalitas

Moderator: Dr. Peter Stanbury, Research Director, SWR 

SWR Member Interview: Learnings from a regenerative organic trial in Paso Robles

In this Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR) Member Interview podcast Hanna Halmari talks with Caine Thompson, managing director at Robert Hall Winery and O'Neill Vintners & Distillers.

Robert Hall is currently running an industry first comparative study of sustainable vs regenerative vineyard management. Caine and Hanna discuss what regenerative means to Robert Hall, the learnings of the study so far, as well as why O’Neill pursued B-Corp certification.

SWR Member Interview: Transparency in tackling carbon emissions

In this Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR) Member Interview podcast Toby Webb talks with Dom de Ville, director of sustainability and social impact at The Wine Society.

The Wine Society recently published a carbon footprint report. In this podcast Dom gives a breakdown of the Society's carbon footprint calculations, their reduction targets, and how the Society is planning to achieve these. Toby and Dom discuss the importance of bottle weight reduction, the potential of insetting, the ambition of becoming nature-positive, and more.

Alternative packaging formats and social acceptance

This is a recording of a panel session from the SWR Global Conference Series 2023 "How to turn climate mitigation and adaptation into business opportunity"  conference from 1st February 2023.

Alternative packaging formats and social acceptance

Alternative packaging is a broad spectrum for consumers. Some of it is really appealing, whilst some looks straight out of the 1970s. Design will be key in driving consumer demand but so will ‘choice editing’ and preferential shelf space by retailers, along with other consumer marketing efforts. So what are the latest numbers on sales, and how do/will sales scale and impacts (recycling) be tackled?

Speakers:

• Barry Dick, BWS Global Bulk Wine Sourcing Manager, Waitrose & Partners
• Anne Jones, Wines, Beers and Spirits Expert. Sustainability, Waitrose and Partners
• Oliver Lea, The BIB Wine Company

Moderator: Joe Fattorini, Marketing Consultant

Where are we headed with bottle weight reduction?

This is a recording of a panel session from the SWR Global Conference Series 2023 "How to turn climate mitigation and adaptation into business opportunity"  conference from 1st February 2023.

Bottle weight reduction

Bottle weight reduction is happening, but not nearly fast enough. So how are groups such as SWR accelerating the process? What are some timescales and upcoming requirements from retailers? How can change be supported across the value chain? How will reduction plans be best aligned with alternative packaging approaches?

Speakers:

• Nick Kirk, Technical Director, British Glass
• Simon Mason, Head of Wine Sustainability & Due Diligence, The Wine Society
• Linda Johansson, Sustainability Manager, Systembolaget
• Barry Dick, BWS Global Bulk Wine Sourcing Manager, Waitrose & Partners
• Josep Maria Ribas Portella, International Wineries for Climate Action 
• Maarten Vreeswijk, Ahold Delhaize Wine Buying Center

Moderator: Dr. Peter Stanbury, Research Director, Sustainable Wine Roundtable