Sustainable Wine

So you understand the need to tackle emissions: How do you get started?

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.

So you understand the need to tackle emissions: How do you get started?

Climate strategies must be part of a holistic sustainability strategy, which is more than a few web pages featuring babydoll sheep, alternative packaging pilots and diversity initiatives. Starting with climate change is a good way into broader sustainability strategies. So how can you learn from wine businesses trying to lead in the space. Specifically:

• What are the tools and off the shelf approaches that help you set a baseline?
• How do you put them into action, and what is a meaningful timeline to create a climate, then a holistic sustainability strategy?
• Examples of how it’s done – what are the transferable lessons for others?
• How can collaboration initiatives, such as SWR, improve collaboration and sharing of better practices?

Speakers:

• Julien Gervreau, Founding Board Member, International Wineries for Climate Action
• Michele Manelli, Owner and Winemaker, Salcheto Winery
• Sarah Braude, Casella Family Brands, Australia

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

Strategy in action: Real life examples of climate innovation creating business opportunity

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.

Strategy in action: Real life examples of climate innovation creating business opportunity

The science and impacts of climate change are clear, and do not need debating here. What we do need to urgently consider is how wine businesses can turn mitigation and adaptation into opportunity. In this session, we’ll discuss:

• Is there too much doom and gloom? Do we need to change the climate narrative in wine?
• What constitutes an effective climate strategy - and how that must be part of a credible broader sustainability strategy?
• Examples of game changing approaches in action: How do we inspire wine businesses to take action, and lead using their ability to engage consumers and the value chain?
• What’s the role of groups such as the Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR), and others, in coordinating and catalysing action, and communicating that to the industry and outside wine?

Speakers:

• Kim Forsberg, Sustainability Manager, Vingruppen
• Marta Mendonca, The Porto Protocol
• Valentina Lira, Sustainability Director, Concha y Toro
• Sandrine Sommer, CSO, Moet Hennessy
• James Streeter, Chair of SWR Leadership Committee, Sustainable Wine Roundtable

Moderator: Toby Webb, Executive Director, Sustainable Wine Roundtable

SWR Thought Leadership Series: Crus Bourgeois raising sustainability standards in the Médoc

In this Sustainable Wine podcast Toby Webb sits down with Franck Bijon, president of the Alliance des Crus Bourgeois du Médoc.

Located in the Médoc in Bordeaux, France, around 250 châteaux are part of the classification, with most of them family-owned. Looking ahead to the future of sustainable wine in the region, Franck shares the sustainability targets of the classification. They discuss labor issues, organic viticulture, QR codes on wine bottles, consumer engagement, and more.

SWR Member Interview: Towards a sustainable, egalitarian, and inclusive wine industry in Argentina

In this Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR) Member Interview podcast Hanna Halmari  talks with Magdalena Pesce, general manager at Wines of Argentina. 

They discuss the biggest sustainability challenges and opportunities in the country, and how Wines of Argentina is helping wineries navigate the changing landscape. They also highlight the important work of the Women of Argentina Platform. Magdalena shares how the organization is working to advance equal opportunities and strengthen the role of women in the sector.

SWR Member Interview: Sustainability in the Southern Rhône

In this Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR) Member Interview podcast Hanna Halmari talks with Marie Fourure, CSR manager at Famille Perrin, a leading organic wine grower in the Southern Rhône Valley in France.

They discuss the family's global sustainability strategy, how climate change is affecting the their vineyards and wine making processes, the renovation work taking place at Château de Beaucastel, and more.

How is Ridge Vineyards adapting to California’s warming climate?

In this Sustainable Wine Roundtable podcast Tom Owtram speaks with David Gates, Senior VP of Vineyard Operations at Ridge Vineyards in California.

Ridge Vineyards is the largest grower of organically certified grapes in Sonoma County and in the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation. David shares an overview of the winery's farming philosophy and why they decided to transition to organic farming in 2008. They discuss the key challenges in the conversion, the impact of climate change in the vineyards, and how Ridge is adapting to a warming climate.

Randall Grahm’s key sustainability principles in the vineyard: Integrity and differentiation

In this Sustainable Wine Roundtable podcast Tom Owtram speaks with Randall Grahm, winemaker and founder of Bonny Doon Vineyard in California. Grahm has recently purchased a vineyard site in San Juan Bautista, which he calls Popelouchum, (the Mutsun word for “paradise").

Randall shares his journey in wine and how he began working with the Rhône varieties that he helped make so popular in California. They discuss Randall's philosophy in the vineyard, his definition of sustainability in the vineyard, and more.

Land stewardship in Napa Valley: In conversation with Spottswoode Winery

In this Sustainable Wine Roundtable podcast Tom Owtram speaks with Beth Novak Milliken, president and CEO, and Aron Weinkauf, vineyard manager and winemaker, of Spottswoode Winery in Napa Valley, California.

As one of the first vineyards to have adopted organic farming in Napa Valley, Spottswoode has also incorporated biodynamic practices and will soon be Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC).  They discuss the direction of sustainability within the wine industry, climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies, the benefits of regenerative practices, communicating sustainability, and more.

SWR Member Interview: The importance of promoting a sustainable culture of wine

In this Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR) Member Interview podcast Hanna Halmari talks with Sandro Sartor, President of Wine in Moderation and CEO of Ruffino, an Italian wine producer based in Tuscany.

Wine in Moderation is a social responsibility program with the aim to promote a sustainable culture of wine. Sandro shares how the program helps the sector implement social responsibility initiatives, the progress they have seen over the years, how wine companies can get involved, and more.

SWR Member Interview: Insights on how (and why) to become a B Corp

In this Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR) Member Interview podcast Hanna Halmari talks with Kim Wilson, managing director and founder, and Rebecca Murphy, technical and buying assistant, at North South Wines.

North South Wines is a UK wine distributor with an ambition to achieve sustainable development across the business. The company submitted its B Corp application in July 2022. In the podcast Rebecca and Kim share what sustainability means to North South Wines, why they opted to apply for B Corp certification, key learnings from the application process, how they work with suppliers to drive sustainability throughout the supply chain, and more.