We talk about the packaging decision-making process, the trade-offs that come with alternative formats, and how Alileo is working to change perceptions around boxed wine. With their bold slogan of 'Boxed Wine is Not a Crime', Antonio shares the unique storytelling opportunity packaging can offer and insights into effective consumer engagement.

We discuss Chestwine, TFS’s innovative sulfite alternative made from chestnut male flower tannins. Filipe addresses common misconceptions about sulfites, explains why natural alternatives matter, and shares insights into the unique properties and R&D process behind Chestwine.

Luke also introduces the new Action Area Overview, a document we put together that outlines SWR’s 2026-7 plans and activities, and how you can get involved.

In this Sustainable Wine Roundtable Member Interview podcast, we explore how ISO management systems can move beyond box-ticking to drive real improvement. From the role of ISO standards in the wine industry to common auditing challenges and the approach at A Good Certification Group, Jose shares how audits can be a force for good and help deliver meaningful change.

This approach reflects the realities on the ground: social and environmental issues are often intertwined and managed  by the same small teams in the vineyard. Peter and Toby explain what this means in practice and how collaboration can increase efficiency, reduce costs, and drive more impact.

A successful pilot last year demonstrated the feasibility of collecting primary supply chain data on a large scale. Gad shares the key learnings, insights into the data collection process, next steps for the project, and more.

If you as a producer or grower within Systembolaget’s supply chain would like to get involved, please reach out to your Swedish importer.

If you as a retailer or other major stakeholder in the alcoholic drinks sector would like to know more, please reach out to linda.johansson@systembolaget.se

From sustainability standards and packaging, to sustainable viticulture and labour conditions, find out how SWR is continuing to tackle the tough sustainability challenges while driving innovation and collaboration in the industry.

Wirra Wirra has a long history of sustainable practices, with current initiatives spanning across waste reduction, decarbonisation, biodiversity, packaging, and a reconciliation action plan. In recent years, lightweighting has been a major focus, and this year the winery introduced a proprietary 410g glass bottle across a significant portion of its production.

Matt and Luke share practical insights into the lightweighting process, the importance of partnerships across the value chain, and why they chose to join the Sustainable Wine Roundtable and the Bottle Weight Accord.

SWR is developing a new Sparkling Bottle Weight Accord, building on the success of the still wine Bottle Weight Accord (BWA) launched in 2023. We discuss the progress of the BWA so far, what makes sparkling wine more complex, and how we’re working through those challenges.

There are many opinions when it comes to bottle weight, and it can be hard to separate fact from fiction. We thought we’d help set the record straight and run through some of the most common claims. Fact or fiction? Have a listen to find out.

From grape to glass, they delve into the environmental, social, and economic challenges, opportunities, and innovations shaping the wine industry today. Through compelling data, storytelling, and interviews with growers and producers around the world, Rooted in Change offers deep insight into how the wine world is evolving and adapting to a changing climate.

Jane and Andy share the motivations behind the book, the key lessons they learned along the way, practical advice for listeners, and the importance of maintaining hope and optimism. 

You can purchase your copy at Académie du Vin Library or Amazon.

Recently, SWR partnered with Waitrose to host a visit to Leckford Farms for SWR members. From data to financing, Delaney and Peter share the key insights from the day’s discussions and explain how SWR is turning these ideas into practical next steps through the SVP.

We explore the process and requirements behind the Terra Vitis certification, including the organisation’s work on labour standards and sustainable packaging. Nicolas shares the benefits of the benchmarking process, the key insights for Terra Vitis, and the actions they are implementing moving forward. We also reflect on some of the broader themes from this second round of benchmarking and discuss what these findings mean for the SWR.

As part of this work, the SWR undertook a small research programme earlier this year to better understand producers' priorities around chemical inputs and vineyard management. The aim was to explore whether an approach of collaboration and sharing of insights would be applicable to the sustainability of viticulture.

My colleague Dr Peter Stanbury, SWR's head of research, joins me on the latest From the Roundtable podcast episode to share the findings and what they mean for the SVP.

In the last of three podcasts, he speaks with Cassidee Shull, executive director, Colorado Association for Viticulture & Enology (CAVE). Cassidee shares how the region has developed over the last few decades, the important role of wine tourism, and what sustainable growth looks like for the state.

In the second of three podcasts, he speaks with Dr Charlotte Oliver, state viticultural extension specialist at Colorado State University. They discuss the challenges faced by winemakers in the state, how research is helping make vineyards more resilient and sustainable, and what the future of wine in Colorado looks like.

In the first of three podcasts, he speaks with Nick Games, owner of Maison La Belle Vie in Palisade, Colorado. Located 1,500m above sea-level, Nick shares the peculiarities of growing grapes at a high altitude, the environmental challenges they face, and how they are adapting to a changing climate.

Following the successful pilot last year​, the second round of benchmarking has now been completed, this time including two non-wine-specific standards: the EU Organic Regulation and Demeter certification. In the latest From the Roundtable podcast episode, Hanna Halmari is joined by SWR colleagues Dr Peter Stanbury, head of research, and Delaney Sheridan, operations manager. They share key insights from this second round, how learnings are being applied, and next steps going forward.

Sustainability and innovation have been at the heart of the winery’s philosophy since its founding in 1985, when the Nardi family made the decision to fully convert to organic farming. Since then, the winery has continued to drive sustainable progress in the region: Perlage was the first producer of organic Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG, the first to release a certified biodynamic Prosecco, and the first Italian winery to receive B Corp certification.

In this episode, Anna shares the story behind the winery’s evolution, the challenges of being organic in a traditional region, and key learnings from nearly four decades of sustainable innovation.

The Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR) is tackling this complexity head-on through its Standards Benchmarking action area. Each year, SWR will evaluate all wine sustainability standards against the Global Reference Framework and associated scoring matrix, to help bring greater transparency, clarity, and comparability.

A pilot benchmarking study was completed in 2024, analyzing six different wine standards, including Fair and Green.

In this Sustainable Wine Roundtable Member Interview podcast, I’m joined by Lukas Müller, association and policy officer at Fair and Green, and my colleague Dr. Peter Stanbury, SWR’s head of research.  We discuss the importance of benchmarking sustainability standards, the nuances behind the process, and key learnings from the pilot. Lukas shares why Fair and Green volunteered to participate, the benefits they’ve seen from taking part, and what’s next for the certification.

Once again, a huge thank you to Fair and Green and the other participants for taking part in the pilot. We've recently concluded the second round of standards benchmarking and will be publishing a full report soon, so do keep an eye out for this.

Since its launch, the BWA has gained significant traction. With over 20 global companies now involved, the Accord covers approximately 7.5% of all wine sold. As the initiative continues to make progress, the natural next step is to expand into the sparkling wine sector.

The SWR recently published its first progress report, laying the foundation for a Sparkling Bottle Weight Accord. In this podcast, Hanna Halmari and Dr Peter Stanbury, SWR's head of research, discuss the report’s findings, the unique challenges of sparkling wine packaging, and the next steps for a Sparkling Wine Accord.

Toby and Peter share insights into the SWR's origins, the progress we've made so far, and our plans for what's next.

If you’re interested in joining the SWR or getting involved in any of our action areas, please reach out to delaney@swroundtable.org.

In this Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR) Member Interview podcast, I speak with Kelsey Kolbo, business development manager - wine & liquor at Petainer, about the opportunities presented by PET packaging. Kelsey shares insights into the environmental and economic benefits of PET wine bottles, from lower carbon emissions to reduced risk of breakage. We discuss the drivers behind the shift to alternative formats, common misconceptions about PET, and more.  SWR is developing a Packaging Choice Framework, offering evidence-based insights into the merits and challenges of different packaging formats. If you're interested in learning more or supporting this work, please do get in touch! 

In this latest From the Roundtable podcast episode, SWR's Dr Peter Stanbury, head of research, and Delaney Sheridan, operations manager, join Hanna Halmari to discuss the what, why, how and when of the upcoming framework.

The wine merchant recently became the first in the UK to power its delivery fleet with sustainable Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel. Holly and Molly share insights into the carbon impact of wine distribution and the practical steps Ellis Wines is taking to reduce its footprint, from lightweight packaging and route optimisation to bulk shipping and fleet electrification. You can read more about Ellis Wine's broader sustainability and social impact commitments here.

SWR's Delaney Sheridan also joins the conversation to highlight how the SWR's Packaging Choice Framework and Bottle Miles Calculator projects will support members in cutting emissions. If you're interested in getting involved in either action area, please reach out to Delaney at delaney@swroundtable.org.

If you’re interested in joining the SWR or getting involved in any of our action areas, please reach out to delaney@swroundtable.org.

As one of the world’s ten largest wine companies, Concha y Toro has a unique opportunity to drive significant environmental change - and it’s not wasting any time doing so. The company has accelerated its net-zero target to 2040, advancing the goal by 10 years. Valentina shares how Concha y Toro is driving climate action, from implementing regenerative agriculture practices, to reducing bottle weight and transportation and distribution emissions. We also explore the importance of the Bottle Weight Accord, how to engage packaging suppliers to reduce bottle weight, and the progress Concha y Toro has made so far in these efforts.

In this SWR update podcast, I speak with Dr Peter Stanbury, head of research, and Delaney Sheridan, operations manager, to find out more about our 2025 plans and what members can expect over the coming months.

If you’re interested in joining the SWR or getting involved in any of our action areas, please reach out to info@swroundtable.org.

The Accord is a core commitment by signatories to reduce their average bottle weight of 750ml still bottles to below 420g by the end of 2026. At the time of launch, the BWA had 8 signatories, primarily consisting of retailers. Now, a year later, it encompasses 20 participants and more than 1.5 billion wine bottles produced and sold. This represents around 5% of all wine production worldwide.

Listen to the webinar recording to hear first-hand experiences and key learnings from signatories on how they have implemented the Accord. Hear from:

• Dr Peter Stanbury, research director, SWR
• Rick Eplway, executive leader of merchandising, adult beverages, Whole Foods Market
• Dr Laura Catena, managing director, Bodega Catena Zapata
• Joe Olding, assistant buyer, Tesco

   

Hear from the SWR's founder, Toby Webb, head of research, Dr Peter Stanbury, and head of operations, Delaney Sheridan, as they reflect on the positive developments and milestones achieved in various action areas, including the Bottle Weight Accord, Standards Benchmarking, Sustainable Viticulture Protocol, and more.

Viviana shares the inspiring story of San Pedro TAYU, a unique Pinot Noir produced in collaboration with the Indigenous Mapuche community in Chile's Malleco Valley, located in the Araucanía region. The partnership began in 2015 with two families and has since grown to include eleven families, with a total of 27.5 hectares of vineyards planted on the community’s own land. The community-centric project combines the Mapuche's traditional knowledge of the land with VSPT's expertise in viticulture, creating a long-term model for shared value creation and collaboration.

Laura shares why Catena joined the accord, highlights their progress in lightweighting bottles, and emphasizes the importance of collaboration in addressing consumer misconceptions about bottle weight and wine quality.

They discuss the SWR's recently launched Sustainable Viticulture Protocol (SVP). The SVP is a shared framework for decision-making in relation to chemical use that aims to improve viticulture practices, with an emphasis on the reduction of chemical inputs and the adoption of regenerative techniques. The protocol was launched earlier this year, off the back of extensive research by an SWR inputs working group of which Moritz was part of.

Moritz shares key learnings from the research, why the protocol is necessary, and what progress he hopes to see over the next year.

In this webinar we deep dive into the role of sustainability standards in shaping the future of the wine industry. We bring together leaders from standards organisations, retailers, and producers to explore how these standards influence operations from vineyard to market. We examine the practical challenges and benefits of adopting sustainability standards, with a focus on ensuring they are accessible and impactful for all stakeholders, including smaller producers.

Key discussion topics include:

• How sustainability standards drive best practices in vineyards, wineries, and supply chains.
• The challenge of inclusivity: ensuring smaller growers are not left behind.
• How standards are used by growers, and how they decide which ones to use
• How sustainability standards influence purchasing decisions and shape the market.
• What do consumers think? How standards affect their buying choices.

We also provide an exclusive preview of SWR’s upcoming benchmarking pilot results and discuss how our benchmarking process addresses the growing complexity of sustainability standards in wine.

Speakers:

• Will Drayton, Director Technical Viticulture, Sustainability & Research, Treasury Wine Estates (USA)
• Linda Johansson, Sustainability Manager, Systembolaget (Sweden)
• Kate Venugopal, International Marketing Sustainability Specialist, Wine Institute (USA)

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

If you have any questions with regards to SWR’s sustainability standards benchmarking, please contact Dr. Peter Stanbury (Research Director) or Delaney Sheridan (Operations Manager).

In case you missed the launch or you're short on time, you can listen to this podcast for a quick update on the protocol. Toby Webb, founder and executive director of the SWR, and director of research and standards Dr Peter Stanbury share the context behind the protocol, what we're trying to achieve, and next steps.

This is where the SWR ‘Global Reference Framework’ (GRF) comes in. As the first global statement of what sustainability means in the wine sector, the GRF is a tool which will enable transparent benchmarking of wine sustainability standards around the world.

A pilot benchmarking of 6 standards is currently underway, with the aim to test the applicability of the GRF and the scoring matrix. In this short podcast Toby Webb, founder and executive director of the SWR, and director of research and standards Dr Peter Stanbury share the latest updates on the standards benchmarking project and future plans.

On July 9th, the Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR) proudly unveiled the ‘SWR Sustainable Viticulture Protocol’ to an enthusiastic virtual audience of wine professionals. The webinar launch was moderated by Dr. Peter Stanbury, Research Director, SWR, who introduced the protocol and its objectives.

Environmental practices in the vineyard, particularly the use of chemicals like herbicides, fungicides, and fertilisers, are critical issues in wine sustainability. While organic and biodynamic methods have gained popularity for their reduced chemical use, they are not the only paths to achieving sustainability. Our new protocol seeks to reorient viticulture practices, emphasising the reduction of chemical inputs and the adoption of regenerative techniques.

The development of the Sustainable Viticulture Protocol stems from a year’s worth of dedicated work focused on addressing the sustainable use of vineyard chemicals supported by SWR members Treasury Wine Estates (USA), Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (USA), VSPT Wine Group (Chile), Cloudy Bay (New Zealand), and Hochschule Geinsenheim University (Germany). This protocol is not merely about reducing chemical usage but also about reshaping viticulture practices to inherently require fewer chemical inputs. It builds on the success of the Bottle Weight Accord, which has driven significant industry-wide action towards reducing bottle weight.

Read more here.

Last autumn the SWR developed the Bottle Weight Accord (BWA) in which signatories around the world committed to reducing their average bottle weight to below 420g by the end of 2026. At the time of launch, the BWA had 13 participants, primarily consisting of retailers. Now, six months later, the number of participants has grown to 19, with numerous producers in the mix. 

In this short podcast Toby Webb, founder and executive director of the SWR, and director of research and standards Dr Peter Stanbury, provide a brief update on the Accord and the progress made so far. They reflect on the easy wins, the biggest challenges, the trade-offs that need to be addressed, and more.

You can read more about the Accord and how to get involved here.

• Simon Mason, Head of Wine Sustainability & Due Diligence, The Wine Society
• Emily Revell, Purpose & Sustainability Manager, Virgin Wines
• Nicolas Daspres, Technical Director, Terra Vitis

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

They discuss how eco-design is evolving in France, with a particular focus on light-weighting bottles and alternative packaging formats. Morgane shares how Maison Le Breton is approaching sustainable packaging, and Anne-Laure reflects on the initiatives she's seeing across Terra Vitis members. 

Emily achieved her Master of Wine title earlier this year, for which she wrote a research paper investigating the impact of B Corp certification on wine distributors. In this podcast they discuss the main findings of Emily's research and the key learnings and insights for others working towards becoming a B Corp.

You can find Emily's research paper here.

With over 70 sustainability standards globally relevant to the wine industry, the GRF aims to enable a transparent cross-comparison of all of these existing standards. Peter and Toby discuss the progress made so far, how they've ensured a robust process throughout, the impact they want to see a year from now, and what's next.

This podcast is the second in a series of brief SWR action area updates we'll be publishing this month.

You can read more about the Accord and how to get involved here.

This podcast is the first in a series of brief SWR action area updates we'll be publishing this month.

Hilke Dahlem, co-president of the VDP, also joins the conversation to share some more background on the VDP, why the association was set up, and what sustainability means for the VDP today.

They also discuss the impact of climate change in the Provence region, how winemakers are adapting, the role of innovation, and more.

• Firstly, we’ll drive both connections and collaboration between members so they can share challenges and solutions.
• Secondly, we’re developing guidance and tools to enable the Accord to happen.

In this webinar our speakers share more about the process, the outcomes and most importantly, the climate and savings. Speakers include:

• Dr Peter Stanbury, Research and Standards Director, SWR

• Anne-Laure Ferroir, Director, Terra Vitis

• Jeff Turnas, Senior Vice President of Culinary, Whole Foods Market

Moderated by Tobias Webb, Founder and Executive Director, SWR

Amanda explains what makes the region so unique for winemaking and shares more about MRWA and its sustainability initiatives. They discuss how climate change is affecting the region, how winemakers are adapting, and what the future looks like for Margaret River wine. 

You can find MRWA's inaugural sustainability report here and a few sustainability case studies below:

• Revegetation Program – Voyager Estate
• Wastewater – Cape Mentelle & Stormflower
• Energy Savings – Xanadu Winery

Toby, representing his personal views and not those of the SWR, takes a deliberately provocative stance. He kicks off the conversation by suggesting that communicating sustainability in today's wine industry "is a waste of time." Trying to communicate sustainability is too difficult at the moment, he says, and it instead distracts us from the real business of sustainability in wine.  Joe, with his background as a tv presenter, marketing consultant, and wine merchant, brings in a different perspective, having typically worked closely with the customer as the starting point. Listen to the discussion to find out what points they agree on, and where they disagree.

This final workshop from 21st November provides attendees with actionable insights to address labor rights challenges within their own businesses or functions. It aims to equip participants with the tools needed to assess and mitigate such risks. 

Our esteemed panelists include:

• Linda Lipparoni, CEO, WIETA
• Jason Glaser, CEO, La Isla Network
• Silvia Bianco, Italy Programme Manager, Stronger Together

In this second part of the workshop from 2nd November, we build upon existing expertise in various industries, showcasing best practices and guidance applicable to the wine sector.

Our esteemed panelists include:

• Yann Wyss, Global Head, Social Impact and Human Rights, Nestlé
• Alexander Sykes, Sustainable Sourcing, Diageo
• Sophia Gynch, Centre for Responsible Business Conduct, OECD

This inaugural session from 18th October 2023 explores the issues which are covered by the concept of human and labour rights. We cover topics such as forced and migrant labour, living wage standards, and modern slavery, providing concrete examples.

Our esteemed panelists include:

• Phil Bloomer, Executive Director, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
• Jantine Werdmuller von Elgg, CEO, Stronger Together
• Neill Wilkins, Head of Migrant Workers Programme, Head of Migrant Workers Programme, Institute for Human Rights and Business

C&C Group is a multinational drinks manufacturing, marketing and distribution company. As George says, it's "probably the largest alcohol brand and distribution business that people don't know about." George shares the group's approach to sustainable and ethical procurement, and Harriet provides insights into how the sustainability strategy translates into practice for the wine division.

The launch followed a 6-month in-depth study into wine bottle weight reduction, which was co-funded by SWR retailer members Alko (Finland), Lidl GB (UK), Systembolaget (Sweden), The Wine Society (UK) and Whole Foods Market (USA). The SWR ‘Bottle Weight Accord’ is focused on the light weighting of 750ml still wine bottles with the initial target to reduce the current average bottle weight among its retailer members from 550g to 420g before the end of 2026.

The launch event speakers included:

• Dr Peter Stanbury, Research Director, SWR
• Jancis Robinson MW
• Marcus Ihre, Sustainability Manager, Systembolaget
• Dom de Ville, Director of Sustainability and Social Impact, The Wine Society 
• Douglas Bell, Global Purchasing Manager, Whole Foods Market 
• Ella Worley, Wine Portfolio Lead, Naked Wines USA 
• Nick Kirk, Technical Director, British Glass

About the SWR Bottle Weight Accord

This accord is supported by the following retailers: Laithwaites, Lidl GB, Naked Wines UK, Naked Wines USA, Systembolaget AB, The Wine Society, Virgin Wines, Waitrose & Partners, Whole Foods Market.

The glass bottle is the single most significant component of wine’s entire carbon footprint. Research by the SWR shows that as much as half of the carbon impact of wine comes from the bottle itself, a combination of embedded carbon from manufacturing along with the energy required to transport it.

Based on the findings of that research, the SWR has launched the Bottle Weight Accord supported those retail members listed above in order to reduce the average weight of the 750ml still wine bottles they sell from the current average of approximately 550 grams to an average bottle weight below 420 grams by the end of 2026.

This will be achieved through a number of steps:

1. Removing as many of the heaviest bottles as soon as possible;
2. Light-weighting the bottles of “own brand” wines by the end of 2025;
3. Collaborating through SWR to work with branded wines makers.

Each SWR retailer member has undertaken to introduce phased reductions within their own procurement processes. The modalities for each member will be communicated to SWR, which will monitor progress over time. In each case this will include providing SWR every six months with the member’s average wine bottle weight so that SWR can demonstrate publicly bottle weight reductions over time.

As part of this accord, SWR will also work with its members in other parts of the supply chain to facilitate this process of change. This will include working with producers to access lighter weight bottles and providing guidance to bottlers on changes in the management of filling lines. We recognise that there may be challenges in certain areas, for example with the packaging rules of some appellations. However, the SWR believes that taking a collective approach to these issues is the most effective way of delivering change.

The SWR sees taking average wine bottle weight below 420g as only the first step, and will be exploring what further reductions will be possible over time. We will also be undertaking further work to address the carbon impact of wine packaging, including light-weighting of sparkling wine bottles, examination of the expanded use of alternative packaging formats, and of bulk shipping.

For further information, please contact Dr. Peter Stanbury (SWR Research Director) peter@swroundtable.org or Tom Owtram (SWR General Manager) - tom@swroundtable.org

Fictional case study: What a carbon positive wine would look like from vine to post-consumption

In this short session, we consider how grapes from harvest will be consumed sustainably by 2030, including the all important packaging and distribution aspect. We look at how a regenerative, circular wine supply will look end to end, and have the most positive impact on society and the environment. Speakers:

• Dom de Ville, Director of Sustainability and Social Impact, The Wine Society
• Tamlyn Currin, Sustainability Editor, JancisRobinson.com
• David A. Harvey, Raeburn Fine Wines

Moderator: James Streeter, Chair to SWR Leadership Committee, Sustainable Wine Roundtable

Key discussion points include:

• What do we mean by insetting? 
• How are carbon and nature enhancement linked? 
• What is the landscape approach? How would that work? 
• What is wine's unique advantage in this space? 
• What might an SWR role be?
• Challenges and opportunities 
• Discussion of next steps 

• Dom de Ville, director of sustainability and social impact, The Wine Society
• Marta Juega Rivera, sustainability manager and winemaker, Alliance Wine 
• Antonio Roade, ESG director, Adolfo Dominguez 
• Tobias Webb, executive director, Sustainable Wine Roundtable

Supply chain data collection, how will unified approaches transform sustainability performance?

Big players in wine, such as retailers, want to take a consistent approach to the sustainability data they ask for from importers, distributors, producers and other suppliers. This makes sense and can also have a positive impact on the value chain in terms of reducing costs and saving time. So what are the trends? We’ll include an update on the SWR retailer initiative in this area and look at how bottle weight approaches will spread to other areas.

Speakers:

• Erica Landin-Löfving, Chief Sustainability Officer, Vintage Wine Estates
• Ondrej Tarabus, Climate Programme Director, Preferred by Nature
• Andres Valero, Sustainable Leader, Grupo Avinea, Argentina

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

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 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? 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 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 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

“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?

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?

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 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 

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 

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Domaine Bousquet is one of Argentina’s leading organic producers and the winery recently took step further and obtained the Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC). Hanna and Franco discuss the main differences between organic and regenerative, the social dimension of the ROC, communicating regenerative, consumer trends, and more.

This episode is part of our ‘SWR Member Interview’ podcast series. Each episode will feature a different guest speaker from the SWR in which we’ll highlight the latest news, innovations and developments of this member’s sustainability journey and their involvement in the SWR.

We welcome all members interested in taking part to contact Hanna Halmari – hanna@sustainablewine.co.uk

Alongside presenting the latest progress of the SWR and the opportunities and benefits of SWR membership, we hear from some of our members on what their motivations were for joining and how the SWR is supporting their organisations to achieve their sustainability objectives.

Our panel of SWR members include:

• Dom de Ville, Director of Sustainability and Social Impact, The Wine Society (The International Exhibition Co-operative Wine Society Limited)
• Anne Jones, Sustainability Expert – Wines, Beers and Spirits, Waitrose & Partners
• Marta Juega, PhD, Winemaker and Sustainability Manager, Alliance Wine
• Chris Millson, Head of Sustainability, Direct Wines
• Andres Valero, Sustainability and CSR Leader, Grupo Avinea

Moderator: Tobias Webb, Executive Director, Sustainable Wine Roundtable

Find out more about our upcoming panel discussions here.

Since the early 1990's, Johan has been a pioneer in biodynamics and is now globally recognised for his sustainable approach to viticulture and winemaking.

Situated in the Polkadraai Hills just outside of Stellenbosch, Tom and Johan discuss the challenges of certification, the definition and benefits of regenerative farming, how Reyneke Wines is taking action to address the sustainability of their packaging, the importance of social sustainability, and the need for greater collaboration between different wine regions. They conclude by looking ahead to 2030 and Johan shares his thoughts on the challenges for the South African wine industry and where he hopes the industry will be.

For more information or to register your interest in featuring in the podcast,  please contact Hanna Halmari at hanna@sustainablewine.co.uk

They discuss how to engage actors throughout the wine value chain in climate change issues, the importance of technology investments in sustainability, and more.

We welcome all members interested in taking part to contact Hanna Halmari – hanna@sustainablewine.co.uk

Sally entered the industry as a non-wine professional and built the winery from the ground up. They discuss how this has shaped Sally's approach to sustainability, the challenges she faces as a small producer in Bordeaux, consumer perceptions of sustainability, sustainable packaging challenges and solutions, and more.

This episode is part of our ‘SWR Member Interview’ podcast series. Each episode will feature a different guest speaker from the SWR in which we’ll highlight the latest news, innovations and developments of this member’s sustainability journey and their involvement in the SWR.

We welcome all members interested in taking part to contact Hanna Halmari – hanna@sustainablewine.co.uk

For more information or to register your interest in featuring in the podcast,  please contact Hanna Halmari at hanna@sustainablewine.co.uk

They discuss the importance of collaboration in the industry, the role of the SWR, how wine retailers can and must take responsibility for sustainability to ensure the future of wine, and much more.

For more information or to register your interest in featuring in the podcast,  please contact Hanna Halmari - hanna@sustainablewine.co.uk

This is the first episode in our new 'SWR Member Interview' podcast series. Each episode will feature a different guest speaker from the SWR in which we’ll highlight the latest news, innovations and developments of this member’s sustainability journey and their involvement in the SWR.

We welcome all members interested in taking part to contact Hanna Halmari - hanna@sustainablewine.co.uk

The Park, which packages 25% of all wine sold in the UK, is leading on a number of sustainability initiatives at their facilities. Toby and Richard discuss circular approaches, sustainable innovations in industrial manufacturing, cross-industry learnings on accelerating sustainability, addressing the issue of bottle weight, consumer education, and more.

They discuss Laura's work at Bodega Catena Zapata and the work of the Catena Institute of Wine. Laura shares why the Institute joined the Sustainable Wine Roundtable as a founding member, learnings of water use and conservation from Argentina, the pressures, challenges, and opportunities surrounding wine packaging, and much more.

Wine people: Ensuring the rights and well-being of workers, advancing equality and diversity, and nurturing good relations with neighbouring communities

• Emerentia Patientia, Senior Project Officer, Fairtrade Africa
• Allan Sichel, President, Bordeaux Wine Council
• Jimena Sanchez, Network Representative, Amfori

• Dr. Peter Stanbury, Sustainable Wine Roundtable

Carbon accounting: Harmonising the metrics and methodologies. Is standardisation a realistic goal?

• Stefan Jirka, Senior Manager, Agriculture Innovation, Verra
• Derek Markolf, Americas Climate Change and Sustainability Technical Manager, Lloyd's Register
• Josep Maria Ribas Portella, Member Board of Directors, International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA)
• Josh Prigge, Sustainability Consultant and Principal, Sustridge
• Sara Walton, Sector Lead (Food), British Standards Institution (BSI)

• Toby Webb, Sustainable Wine Roundtable

Consumers say they want sustainable wine; how can retailers deliver?

• Devon Broglie, Wine, Beer, and Spirits Product Development and Innovation, WholeFoods
• Sara Norell, Director of Assortment, Purchasing & Supplychain, Systembolaget
• Dan Thomas, Co-founder, Smashed Grapes
• Andrés Valero, Sustainability and CSR Leader, Grupo Avinea

• Joe Fattorini, Trade Managing Director, Pix

Wine standards and certification: Clarity, coordination and common cause. How do we make this happen?

• Linda Johansson, Sustainability Manager, Systembolaget
• Anne-Laure Ferroir, Director, Terra Vitis
• Stefano Stefanucci, Executive Director, EQUALITAS
• Ana Varsi, Associate Director of Sustainability Standards & Scheme Manager, LSQA

• Dr. Peter Stanbury, Sustainable Wine Roundtable

How is wine adapting to the climate chaos? And is it moving fast enough?

• Mafalda Guedes, Corporate Brand & Communications, Sogrape
• Anna Hooper, Manager of Industry Policy, Australian Grape & Wine
• Prof. Gary Pickering, Cool Climate Oenology & Viticulture Institute, Brock University
• Prof. Hans Schultz, President, Hochschule Geisenheim University
• Luis Reginato, Vineyard Manager, Catena Zapata

• Toby Webb, Sustainable Wine Roundtable

Breaking out of the bubble: Learning from other industries - key lessons for wine. How standards can guide and incentivise sector-wide transformation

• Caroline Hermann MW
• Etelle Higonnet, Senior Advisor, National Wildlife Federation
• Annette Pensel, Executive Director, Global Coffee Platform
• Elena Schmidt, Executive Director, Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials

• Toby Webb, Sustainable Wine Roundtable

Packaging: Mitigating glass impacts - is standard size & weight the key?

• Barry Dick MW, BWS Global Bulk Wine Sourcing Manager, Waitrose & Partners
• Dr. Nick Kirk, Technical Director, British Glass
• Ceri Parke, Owner, Cantina Goccia
• Simon Mason, Head of Wine Sustainability & Due Diligence, The Wine Society
• Amina Merlez Ghiglino, Innovation & Development Specialist, VSPT Wine Group

• Trina Plamondon, Founder, Boutèy

Vineyard inputs: A new approach to an old debate. Protecting human health, the environment and productivity.

• Franco Bastias, Chief Agronomist, Domaine Bousquet
• Will Drayton, Director of Technical Viticulture & Research Winemaking, Treasury Wine Estates
• Laurel Marcus, Executive Director, Fish Friendly Farming
• Jim White, Technical Director, Cloudy Bay

• Dr. Paul Jepson, Independent Consultant, Portland Oregon

Sustainable tourism: How do we link sustainable tourism with sustainable wine?

• Saúl Blanco, Director of Sustainable Travel Programme, Preferred by Nature
• Shelly Fuller, Fruit & Wine Programme Manager, WWF South Africa
• Catherine Leparmentier, Managing Director, Great Wine Capitals
• Michele Manelli, Equalitas Vice-President & Owner, Salcheto Winery
• Gergely Szolnoki, Professor of Market Research, Hochschule Geisenheim University

• Marta Juega Rivera, Winemaker and Sustainability Manager, Alliance Wine

Strategy Panel: Why is sustainability now not a choice but a necessity? What does it mean for wine businesses?

• Anne Bousquet, CEO & Co-founder, Domaine Bousquet
• Kirsten Gray, Chief Sustainability and External Affairs Officer, Treasury Wine Estates
• Erica Landin-Lofving, Chief Sustainability Officer, Vintage Wine Estates
• Sandrine Sommer, Chief Sustainability Officer, Moët Hennessy
• Sam Thackeray, Managing Director, Enotria&Coe

• Toby Webb, Sustainable Wine Roundtable

How will the Sustainable Wine Roundtable catalyse change in the global wine industry? And why does it matter?

• Carlos De Jesus, Director Marketing & Communications, Amorim
• Marcus Ihre, Sustainability Supply Chain Manager, Systembolaget
• Valentina Lira, Director of Sustainability, Concha y Toro
• Barbara Wolff Gopfert, Sustainability & Innovation Manager, VSPT Wine Group
• Hubert Zeimett, Managing Director, Château Léoube

• Richard Bampfield MW

Speakers:

• Muriel Chatel, managing director, SustainableWineSolutions
• Bethany Morgan-Jones, GM and head sommelier, Apricity
• Juliane Caillouette Noble, managing director, The Sustainable Restaurant Association
• Marta Juega Rivera, winemaker and sustainability manager, Alliance Wine

Moderated by Toby Webb, founder, Sustainable Wine

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Every month the Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR) hosts a free debate-style webinar in which we address a challenging topic in wine sustainability. We discuss key issues, propose solutions, and explore the practical implementation of sustainability in wine. See here for more information on the next upcoming discussion.

Speakers:

• Franco Bastias, agronomist and sustainability leader, Domaine Bousquet
• Kevin Corliss, vice president vineyards, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates
• Jon Entine, founder and executive director, The Genetic Literacy Project
• Luis Reginato, vineyard manager, Catena Zapata
• Whitney Beaman, sustainability program manager, The New York Wine & Grape Foundation

Moderated by Toby Webb, founder, Sustainable Wine

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Every month the Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR) hosts a free debate-style webinar in which we address a challenging topic in wine sustainability. We discuss key issues, propose solutions, and explore the practical implementation of sustainability in wine.

Date: Wednesday 30th March, 5 pm GMT

Speakers:

• Will Drayton, Director of Technical Viticulture & Research Winemaking, Treasury Wine Estates
• Erica Landin-Lofving, Chief Sustainability Officer, Vintage Wine Estates
• Morgane Le Breton, Head of Marketing, BLB Vignobles
• Andres Valero, Sustainability and CSR Leader, Grupo Avinea

Moderated by Toby Webb, founder, Sustainable Wine

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Every month the Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR) hosts a discussion on a challenging topic in wine sustainability. We debate key issues, propose solutions, and explore the practical implementation of sustainability in wine.

These are free to all, debate-style webinars facilitated by Toby Webb, featuring SWR members and guest speakers from both inside and outside the wine industry. You can register for the upcoming discussion here.

Register fo

They discuss the challenges of balancing the niche definitions of sustainability within a broader holistic framework, raising awareness of the sustainability issues throughout the wider value chain, consumer education, and the opportunities for cross-over between the Sustainable Restaurant Association and the Sustainable Wine Roundtable.

Located in the demarcated region of Alentejo (DOC), the Coelheiros estate is over 800ha, consisting of vineyards, walnut orchards, and a cork forest. With its holistic and cross-sectional approach to sustainability, Coelheiros is one of the first wineries to have received the Wines of Alentejo Sustainability Program (WASP) certification seal.

Listen to the podcast to find out how the winery is approaching circularity, climate change adaption, organics, and more.

Looking forward to 2022, Tom Owtram, Sustainable Wine's outreach and development manager,  talks about the work of the Sustainable Wine Roundtable and its plans for the year ahead.

There are many sustainability vineyard standards and certifications. How can the best of them help vineyards all over the world, raise their game on sustainability? Important work has been done around the world on creating useful regional standards. Now there is a significant opportunity to join them up, learn from the best of what they have done, and create a global standard.

In this session we will look at how that is happening, what value it will add, and the work planned for 2022 and beyond.

Speakers:

• Stefano Stefanucci, director, Equalitas
• Marcus Ihre, sustainability manager supply chain, Systembolaget
• Chris Wille, technical director, Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR)
• Fred Loimer, founding member, respekt-BIODYN
• Tatiana Svinartchuk, head of economy and law unit, OIV - International Organisation of Vine and Wine

Moderator: Tom Owtram, outreach and development manager, Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR)

Speakers:

• Bruno Le Breton, owner and winemaker, BLB Vignobles
• Anne Bousquet, president, co-founder, Domaine Bousquet

Moderator: Richard Bampfield, MW

Speakers:

• Eloi Jacob, managing director, Château Fourcas Hosten
• Marion Merker, marketing manager, Château de La Dauphine
• Marie-Laure Latorre, managing director, Château Jean Faure
• Jane Rickson, professor of soil erosion and conservation, Cranfield University, Cranfield Soil and AgriFood Institute

Moderator: Lauren Holman, sales manager and sustainability lead, Château Léoube

Science based approaches are not always taken on board in the wine industry. One good example is how the term organic is understood and applied. In this session we will debate, with a science communications expert, how this should change. Climate change means we really do need all the tools available to us, and we will discuss how we move from dogma, to science based approaches.

Speakers:

• Ernst Loosen, owner, Weingut Dr. Loosen
• Jon Entine, executive director, Genetic Literacy Project
• Bruno Le Breton, owner and winemaker, BLB Vignobles

Moderator: Toby Webb, co-founder, Sustainable Wine

Water use reduction is vital for many reasons. Climate impacts via energy use is one. Another is localised or regional shortages. The wine industry has not always been the most efficient user of water, amongst many others. So what does best practice in water management mean, how is it best done, what are the benefits and outcomes?

Speakers:

• Lauren Holman, sales manager and sustainability lead, Château Léoube
• Rosana Lisa, director, Bodegas Ramon Bilbao
• Franck Massard, sommelier and vigneron, Franck Massard

Moderator: Linda Johnson-Bell, Founder of The Wine and Climate Change Institute, Oxford (TWACCI)

Regenerative is everywhere you turn. But there is only one standard and certification scheme, out of California, so far. More are coming. But does regenerative ‘do the job’ in describing and catalysing sustainable practices? Our speakers bring different perspectives to this debate and we’ll ask them questions such as:

1. What does regenerative actually mean? Should it go beyond soil?
2. How have sustainability concerns changed how they work in the vineyard today?
3. Do we need more and better standards for sustainable viticulture beyond organic? Should these be certifiable?
4. How do we get the sustainability message across to growers and smaller producers- often using outdated practices because “that’s how we do it”

Speakers:

• Basile Tesseron, owner and winemaker, Château Lafon-Rochet
• João L. Barroso, sustainability programme coordinator, Wines of Alentejo
• Stephen Cronk, founder & CEO, Mirabeau Wine
• Abby Rose, co-founder, Vidacycle

Moderator: Toby Webb, co-founder, Sustainable Wine

Whilst vineyards can often be carbon sinks, emissions can still be a factor. All businesses will need to show how they are cutting emissions and moving towards net positive impacts. This session will discuss three important themes:

1. What can you do now to mitigate impact, adapt to current climate changes and prepare for those in the future?
2. How should vineyard owners and managers seek to influence what happens in the winery to reduce emissions? (Bottle weight as an example)
3. What is the role – and responsibility – of wine producers overall, to communicate and raise awareness about climate change to customers, suppliers and the public in general?

Speakers: 

• Charles Philipponat, CEO, Champagne Philipponnat
• Nicole Rolet, owner, Chêne Bleu
• Chris Foss, chair, Sustainable Wines of GB
• Alistair Nesbitt, CEO, Vinescapes

Moderator: Toby Webb, co-founder, Sustainable Wine

An opportunity to discuss the reality of reusable packaging for refillable retailing. How recyclable can bag in box become, and when? Which are the best examples that may dominate the market and the technology behind recycling them? Our panel of experts will highlight examples of better packaging, assess its impacts, and consider which may fail, and which many succeed in helping transform the market for wine packaging.

Speakers:

• Oliver Lea, co-founder & managing director, The BIB Wine Company
• Dr. Carlos Ludlow Palafox, CEO, Enval
• Rob Malin, CEO & co-founder, When in Rome
• Oli Purnell, co-founder, The Copper Crew

Moderator: Sally Evans, owner and winemaker, Château George 7

Talking to consumers about sustainability has never been easy. In 2021 awareness of sustainability issues has never been greater. But helping customers move beyond buying organic or natural wine means getting them to think about packaging and distribution, which is where the biggest impacts actually are, in terms of CO2. In this session we’ll discuss how those closest to customers can engage them in sustainability beyond bottle labels.

Speakers:

• Muriel Chatel, managing director, Borough Wines
• Melissa Saunders, MW, CEO, Communal Brands
• Damien Barton, director, Château Leoville Barton & Langoa Barton

Moderator: Toby Webb, co-founder, Sustainable Wine

This chart, tweeted by Jancis Robinson recently, shows the CO2 footprint of wine in its value chain. Transport and distribution has a significant impact. So what can be done about making distribution lower carbon? This session will discuss how this can, and is happening. We will look at the challenges and opportunities to save money and drive innovation.

Speakers:

• Mickael Alborghetti, CEO & founder, Ethic Drinks
• Sam Boex, co-founder, Flexi Hex
• Richard Ellison, managing director, Wanderlust Wines
• Nicolas Rizzi, owner, Modal Wines

Moderator: Pauline Vicard, executive director, Areni Global – FM4FW

The glass industry has come under pressure on its CO2 footprint in recent years. Bottle weight has become the most significant factor in climate change in wine as a result of the footprint of glass. Meanwhile alternative formats are getting a lot of attention. However, glass is here to stay for much of the wine industry. So how can it, and is it, reducing its footprint? And what can wine bottle sourcing businesses do, to support lower carbon glass? We will discuss here. 

Speaker:

• Dr. Nick Kirk, technical director, British Glass

Moderator: Toby Webb, co-founder, Sustainable Wine

Research appears to show that packaging can be the largest part of wine’s carbon footprint, with up to 30% of the GHG emissions from wine, being in bottle manufacture and transport. We will look at the latest numbers on impact, how this can be changed. We’ll also ask what retailers want now on packaging performance, and how will that change to 2025 and beyond?

Speakers:

• Anne Jones, partner and category manager drinks, Waitrose & Partners
• Kim Forsberg, sustainability manager, VinGruppen
• Joanna Griffiths, global food community director, BSI
• Carlos de Jesus, marketing & communication director, Amorim Cork

Moderator: Toby Webb, co-founder, Sustainable Wine

On 15th September 2021, the SWR held a global media briefing to announce the launch, its founding members, future plans and how you can get involved. Listen to the recording here.

They discuss what sustainability means to the business, what it looks like on the ground at Avinea's vineyards, the importance of organic viticulture and how this concept is evolving within the organisation. 

We'd like to thank Grupo Avinea for their generous support as a sponsor of the Future of Wine Americas Conference. 

Speakers:

- Anna Brittain, executive director, Napa Green Sustainability Program - Kathy Clancy, founder, The Natural Wine School - Fintan du Fresne, general manager and winemaker, Chamisal Vineyards - Joel Peterson, executive director, Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance

Moderator: Wendy Narby, wine educator and founder, Insider Tastings

Speakers:

- Zach Lawless, co-founder / CEO, The Good Goods - Bruce Schneider, co-founder, Gotham Project - Joanna Griffiths, Global Food Community Director, BSI Group

Moderator: Toby Webb, co-founder, Sustainable Wine

Speakers: - Joanna Griffiths, Global Food Community Director, BSI Group - Melissa Saunders MW, CEO, Communal Brands

Moderator: Toby Webb, co-founder, Sustainable Wine

Speakers: - Francisca Estartus Iriarte, Head of Sustainability, VSPT Wine Group - Julien Gervreau, VP Sustainability, Jackson Family Wines and IWCA Founding Board Member

Speakers: - Beth Novak Milliken, President & CEO, Spottswoode Estate and IWCA Member - Miguel A. Torres, 4th generation and President, Familia Torres - Bárbara Wolff, Chief Corporate Affairs and Innovation Officer, VSPT Wine Group

Moderator: - Julien Gervreau, VP Sustainability, Jackson Family Wines and IWCA Founding Board Member

Speakers: - Laura Catena, managing director and founder and board member, Bodega Catena Zapata and Catena Institute of Wine - Fernando Buscema, winemaker and executive director, Bodega Catena Zapata and Catena Institute of Wine

Moderator: Toby Webb, co-founder, Sustainable Wine

Speakers: - Edward Field, owner and founding partner, Natural Merchants - Rob McMillan, EVP & Founder, Wine Division, Silicon Valley Bank - Beth Vukmanic, program director, SIP Certified - Pamela Strayer, Senior Editor, Slow Wine Guide USA

Moderator: Toby Webb, co-founder, Sustainable Wine

Speakers: - Steve Matthiasson, owner and winemaker, Matthiasson Family Vineyards - Mike Swanton, owner/operator, Laura Michael Wines

Moderator: Deborah Parker Wong, National Editor, Slow Wine Guide USA

Speakers: - Carlo Mondavi, co-founder & chief farming officer Monarch Tractor, co-founder winegrower, RAEN winery

Moderator: Toby Webb, co-founder, Sustainable Wine

Speakers: - Caleb Mosley, vineyard manager, Matthiasson Family Vineyards - Laurel Marcus, executive director, California Land Stewardship Institute - Cristóbal Undurraga, technical director, Viña Koyle - John Williams, co-founder, Frog’s Leap

Moderator: Linda Johnson-Bell, author and founder, The Wine and Climate Change Institute

Speakers: - Brighid O’Keane, outreach director, LIVE - Katie Pease, program manager, Sustainable Winegrowing British Columbia (SWBC) - Brian Talley, president and CEO, Talley Vineyards Moderator: Anna Chilton, Independent Wine and Supply Chains Expert

Speakers:

- Susan Cholette, VP of consulting services, CleanMetrics & professor, Decision Sciences, San Francisco State University - Marie-Odile Fortier, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering University of California - Elton Potts, managing partner, Vine Vault

Moderator: Caren McNamara, founder and CEO, Conscious Containers

Speakers:

- Gabriel Bloise winemaker, Chakana Winery - Miguel Garcia, sustainable agriculture program manager, Napa Resource Conservation District - Jordan Lonbord, viticulturist, Tablas Creek Vineyard - Dr. Cristine Morgan, chief scientific officer, Soil Health Institute

Moderator: Toby Webb, co-founder, Sustainable Wine

Speakers: - Yannick Benjamin, co-founder, Wine on Wheels - Alicia Towns Franken, board member & mentor, Wine Unify - Lia Jones, executive director, Diversity in Food and Beverage - Karissa L. Kruse, president, Sonoma County Winegrowers

Moderator: Deborah Parker Wong, National Editor, Slow Wine Guide USA

Speakers: - Ignacio Gavilan, director, The Consumer Goods Forum - David Grayson, emeritus professor of corporate responsibility, Cranfield School of Management, UK and chair of the Institute of Business Ethics - Caroline Hermann MW, attorney - Etelle Higonnet, senior advisor, National Wildlife Federation

Moderator: Toby Webb, co-founder, Sustainable Wine

Speakers: - Laura Diaz, winemaker and general manager, Ehlers Estate - Jon Entine, executive director, Genetic Literacy Project - Randall Grahm, founder, Bonny Doon Vineyard - Carlo Mondavi, co-founder & chief farming officer Monarch Tractor, co-founder winegrower RAEN winery

Moderator: Toby Webb, co-founder, Sustainable Wine

Speakers: - Ron Gonen, CEO, Closed Loop Partners - Joanna Griffiths, Global Food Community Director, BSI Group - Nicolas Quillé MW, chief winemaker and operations officer, Crimson Wine Group - Melissa Saunders MW, CEO, Communal Brands

Moderator: Toby Webb, co-founder, Sustainable Wine

Speakers: - Andy Rose, head of strategy, The Good Goods - Bruce Schneider, co-founder, Gotham Project

Moderator: Martin Reyes MW, principal, Reyes Wine Group

Speaker: Andrés Valero, leader of sustainability and CSR, Grupo Avinea

Moderator: Josh Prigge, sustainability consultant and principal, Sustridge

Speakers:

- Felix Egerer, vineyard manager, Tantalus - Juan Pablo Murgia, chief winemaker, Bodega Argento - Michael Scholz, VP of Viticulture and Winemaking, St Supéry Estate Vineyard & Winery

Moderator: Toby Webb, co-founder, SustainableWine

Speakers: - Paul Foulkes-Arellano, founder, Circuthon Consulting - Caren McNamara, founder and CEO, Conscious Containers - Bárbara Wolff, chief corporate affairs and innovation officer, VSPT

Moderator: Carrie Mae George, Vice President and Head of Sustainability Impact, Everledger

Speakers: - Carlos de Jesus, director marketing and communications, Amorim Cork - Rob McMillan, EVP and Founder, Wine Division, Silicon Valley Bank - Michaela K. Rodeno, owner, Villa Ragazzi - Sandra E. Taylor, CEO, Sustainable Business International LLC

Moderator: Michelle Bouffard, founder, Tasting Climate Change

- David Gates, senior VP of Vineyard Operations, Ridge Vineyards - Melissa Hansen, research program director, Washington State Wine Commission

Moderator: Thomas Grandperrin, co-founder, UAV-IQ Precision Agriculture

Speakers:

- Richard Bampfield MW, chair of the Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR) - Elena Carretero Gomez, vice chairman r+d consortium, Wines of Chile, corporate affairs & sustainability director, Santa Rita Estates - Allison Jordan, executive director, California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance - Pau Roca, director general, International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) - Andrés Valero, leader of sustainability and CSR, Grupo Avinea

Moderator: Toby Webb, co-founder, Sustainable Wine

Speakers: - Jessica Baum, director of regenerative development & sustainability, Fetzer Vineyards - Will Drayton, director of technical viticulture & research winemaking, Treasury Wine Estates - Julien Gervreau, founding board member, IWCA - Diana Snowden Seysses, winemaker, Domaine Dujac and Snowden Vineyards

Moderator: Toby Webb, co-founder, Sustainable Wine

Speakers: - David Amadia, president, Ridge Vineyards - Eduardo Chadwick, president, Viñedos Familia Chadwick - Katie Jackson, SVP, Jackson Family Wines - Beth Novak Milliken, president and CEO, Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery - Peter Work, winemaker & grapegrower, Ampelos Cellars

Moderator: Toby Webb, co-founder, Sustainable Wine

They discuss why Concha y Toro decided to go for B Corp certification, the challenges they faced, what they have learnt so far, and more.

They discuss their collaboration, their sustainability journeys, the challenges of going organic in Bordeaux, and how to talk about sustainability to consumers.

The closing plenary session of the conference focuses on the next generation of wine consumers. The concern in the wine industry is that younger generations are drinking less and less wine and switching to spirits and other drinks. So how can sustainability help make wine more relevant again, outside the tiny but growing niches of organic, biodynamic, natural or “clean”? Our panel debates.

Speakers:

• Richard Wright, behavioural science director, Unilever
• Madeline Puckette, co-founder, WineFolly.com
• Allison Jordan, executive director, California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance
• Richard Ellison, founder and buyer, Wanderlust Wine

Moderator:

• Hanna Halmari, editor, Sustainablewine.co.uk

Packaging, distribution, and post consumer recycling (or lack of it) is the biggest part of wine’s carbon footprint. So what does the future look like for bottles, packaging and closures, in light of sustainability concerns, and opportunities? Our panelists discuss.

Speakers:

• Lauren Holman, export sales manager, Château Léoube
• David Harvey, head of the London office, Raeburn Fine Wines
• Brad Greatrix, winemaker, Nyetimber
• Dominique Tourneix, CEO, DIAM France

Moderator:

• Sally Evans, owner and winemaker, Château George 7

Well, where do we start with this? Aveline and other ‘clean’ and ‘natural’ wines serve to raise the blood pressure of various wine experts like almost no other issues. But natural marketing is an old game, and so shouldn’t the wine industry just live with it, and focus on the best ways to do real, meaningful communications about wine, its provenance and impacts? Our panelists discuss.

Speakers:

• Richard Bampfield MW
• Anne Jones, partner & category manager, drinks, wines, beers and spirits buying, Waitrose & Partners
• Felicity Carter, editor-in-chief, Meininger’s Wine Business International
• Liz Earle MBE, writer, TV presenter and entrepreneur

Moderator:

• Erica Duecy, chief content officer, Emetry

This session takes a look at how three different wine producers are tackling protecting and enhancing biodiversity. Our panelists discuss their approaches to encouraging and promoting biodiversity in their vineyards, how to collaborate effectively with partners to make progress happen and how to measure it, the value of certification in encouraging biodiversity (Haute Valeur Environmentale, for example), and more.

Speakers:

• Belén Iacono, chief agronomist, Adrianna Vineyard, Catena Zapata
• Matias Rios, chief winemaker, Cono Sur
• Romain Ott, production director & head winemaker, Château Léoube

Moderator:

• Toby Webb, co-founder, Sustainable Wine

So what should a circular economy approach in a sustainable winery look like? How do you define circular and what does it look like in practice? Some wineries are capturing Co2 from fermentation and turning it into potassium bicarbonate. This is an important innovation, but what else constitutes circular approaches in the vineyard? Florence Cathiard and Fabien Teitgen from Smith Haut Lafitte discuss.

Speakers:

• Florence Cathiard, president, Smith Haut Lafitte

• Fabien Teitgen, winemaker, Smith Haut Lafitte

Moderator:

• Anna Chilton, wine and sustainable supply chains expert

Bubbles and silos exist everywhere in business. Ask a palm oil expert about cotton, and they most likely won’t know much. Wine is no exception and much can be learned from other industries. Many of these have been heavily exposed to negative campaigning, consumer pressure, and legal and regulatory pressures, often as a result. So which lessons can the wine sector learn about sustainability from other industries? Our panel of non wine but very much sustainability experts, debate.

Speakers:

•  Dr. Simon Lord, independent palm oil and sustainability expert
• Anna Turrell, head of environment, Tesco
• Gordon Muir, head of sales, Gordon and Macphail Whisky & Premium Spirit Merchants
• Ignacio Gavilan, director, environmental sustainability, Consumer Goods Forum
• Bastien Sachet, CEO, Earthworm Foundation

Moderator:

• Ian Welsh, editorial director, Innovation Forum

In this plenary session our panelists discuss what big wine producers can do to have a material impact on climate change beyond the significant task of bottle weight reduction. Is the biggest and most urgent climate issue in the sector helping grape growers cope? Or is it changing how packaging works for retailers and pushing for better recycling and circular economy approaches? 

Speakers:

• Adrian Bridge, CEO, Taylors Port & Fladgate Partnership, Porto Protocol

• Miguel A. Torres, 4th generation and President Familia Torres

• Joanna Griffiths, global food community director, BSI

Moderator:

• Toby Webb, co-founder, Sustainable Wine

Regenerative agriculture is all the rage across a wide variety of different crops, but what actually is it? With no common definition, many say it simply re-badges sustainable agriculture with a new, trendier name. However, proponents argue its primary focus on soil health focuses efforts on what is below ground, and that has major benefits for both carbon fixation, soil health, yield and ultimately all aspects of grape farming sustainability. Our panelists discuss how they define regenerative agriculture, whether it should replace other approaches (organic, biodynamic, etc.), what results they have seen so far from it, and more.

Speakers:

• Neil Collins, winemaker and vineyard manager, Tablas Creek

• Franco Costantini, managing director, Control Union UK

• Gabriel Bloise, winemaker, Chakana Winery, Mendoza, Argentina

• Facundo Bonamaizon, agronomist, Chakana Winery, Mendoza, Argentina

Moderator:

• Toby Webb, co-founder, Sustainable Wine

Sustainablewine.co.uk has interviewed more than a hundred winemakers in the last five years. All of them say climate change has, at the very least, increased weather volatility in vineyards. This is well known to be dangerous for quality of harvests, yields and indeed economic viability for smaller vineyards. Technology can, and is, playing an increasing role in climate change adaptation, with more and more data, tools and early warning systems available. In this breakout session our panelists talk about their approaches to sustainability and climate change. 

Speakers:

• Marta Terrado, science communication specialist & postdoc researcher at the Earth Sciences Department, Barcelona Supercomputing Center

• Joan Esteve Julià, director, Celler Raimat (Catalonia, Spain)

• Albert Hereu, general manager, Catalan Cork Institute Foundation

Moderator:

• Miquel Ros, independent consultant and writer

In this breakout session Elena Carretero Gomez, corporate affairs and sustainability director at Vina Santa Rita, discusses how large and small wine businesses can get better at community engagement and youth empowerment, vitally important issues in the communities surrounding wine businesses. Elena shares the initiatives at Vina Santa Rita, how these work, what they cost, and the business and social benefits.

Speakers:

• Elena Carretero Gomez, corporate affairs and sustainability director, Vina Santa Rita

Moderator:

• Anna Chilton, wine and sustainable supply chains expert

Low carbon innovation can help wine businesses reach and keep loyal, a whole new group of customers. Similarly a technology enabled business that features and promotes sustainable producers at low cost can prove both economically and socially/environmentally viable. In this session two entrepreneurs with disruptive business models discuss the future of wine delivery, in an interactive dialogue, with audience participation.

Speakers:

• Anton Mann, owner, Xisto Wines

• Richard Ellison, founder and buyer, Wanderlust Wine

Moderator:

• Richard Bampfield MW

Are social issues in the vineyard an “Elephant in the room” for the wine industry? Well not so much any more given recent news, from modern slavery in Europe to labour challenges in South Africa and across Italy. In this session our panelists discuss how a wine business can consider supply chain social issues, from grape pickers to other vineyard workers, to contract labour and other areas.

Speakers:

• Anna Chilton, wine and sustainable supply chains expert
• Zachary Kiarie, Fairtrade Africa Southern Africa Network
• Sue Daniels, winemaker, Marks & Spencer

Moderator:

• Toby Webb, co-founder, Sustainable Wine

In this breakout session our panelists, three very different vineyard managers, discuss different perspectives on sustainable vineyard management.

Speakers:

• Sally Evans, owner and winemaker, Château George 7
• Will Davenport, owner and winemaker, Davenport Vineyards
• Diana Snowden Seysses, owner and winemaker, Snowden Vineyards, winemaker, Domaine Dujac

Moderator:

• Jasper Morris MW

If certification is really about claims being made, assurance is vital to support them. The wine industry, which has a long history of guarding terms and appellations, now has a confusing array of claims all over the market. It should welcome a Gold Standard with rigorous auditing and certification. Our panelists discuss how certification should evolve to tackle consumer label confusion, what we want to encourage with certification, how it can be used to create the right incentives and business case for producers, and more.

Speakers:

• Kim Forsberg, sustainability manager, Vingruppen i Norden (wine importer)
• Marcus Ihre, sustainability manager, Systembolaget AB (Sweden's alcohol monopoly)
• Sue Daniels, winemaker, Marks & Spencer
• Stefano Stefanucci, director, Equalitas s.r.l.
• Francesco Ricasoli, owner and CEO, Castello di Brolio

Moderator:

• Toby Webb, co-founder, Sustainable Wine

A global process of defining sustainability in wine would have multiple benefits. It would help – not threaten – existing programs, and would be a godsend to vineyard managers, winemakers and wine marketers. Our panelists discuss how to define sustainability in wine, the need for a global standard, or series of them, in the industry, how this could happen, pros and cons, and more.

Speakers:

• David Horlock, managing director, global food and retail supply chain, British Standards Institution
• Anne Jones, partner & category manager, drinks, wines, beers and spirits buying, Waitrose & Partners
• Laura Varpasuo, sustainability manager, Alko Inc (Finland’s Alcohol Monopoly)
• Karin Kreider, executive director, ISEAL Alliance

Moderator:

• Toby Webb, co-founder, Sustainable Wine

The virtual conference was kicked off with a discussion on the impacts of Covid-19 in the wine industry, with panelists discussing the opportunities, challenges, long term impacts and more.

Speakers:

• Jancis Robinson MW
• Sam Linter, managing director and chief winemaker, Bolney Estates
• Simon Doyle, general manager, Concha y Toro UK
• Joan Esteve Julià, director, Celler Raimat

Moderator:

• Richard Bampfield MW 

Dave Powell, Torbreck founder, on starting again, and making great sustainable Shiraz with his new label, Powell & Son, in Barossa and Eden Valley in S Australia. This is a 20 minute podcast interview looking at the wines he makes, and his views on what is sustainable, natural, and biodynamic wine. 

I recently met with the delightful and charming Morgane Fleury in London. We spent half an hour or so discussing sustainable champagne. How you define it, how you make it, and how you can sell it at 22-25 Euros a bottle and still make a living. She and her family are biodynamic and sustainable pioneers in Champagne and the 20 minute podcast is packed with insight (from her, not me) Enjoy.

Interview with  Martins Barkans, owner of Abavas in Latvia. Martins makes fruit wines and Rhubarb sparkling, but also has five hectares of wine grapes, at one point with 40 varietals planted, to try and make wine at 57 degrees north (In UK terms that's Aberdeen). In this interview we talk about what he's trying to do, the varietals, the weather, burying vines, and how he's managed to make good white wine in Latvia, about as far North as you can get in wine making.

In early June 2019 I sat down in the wine library at 67 Pall Mall in London with Wilco. We talked about how he ended up in New Zealand, the wines he makes at Dry River, reductiveness in wine making, low oxygenation and phenolic compounds, his views on what sustainability means in the vineyard and winery, and on New Zealand and sustainability in wine, in general. Enjoy.