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- Harvesting Sunlight Twice: Agrivoltaics for Resilient Vineyards
Prof. Dr. Manfred Stoll•Peter Stanbury•Delaney SheridanClimate change is rewriting the rules of viticulture, forcing growers to find new ways to protect their vines, optimize resources, and maintain profitability. Agrivoltaics—dual-use solutions combining grape growing with solar energy production—offer a powerful tool for risk-proofing vineyards while improving environmental outcomes.
In this session, the Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR) and Hochschule Geisenheim University present two groundbreaking agrivoltaic systems designed to safeguard vineyards while enhancing productivity:
• VitiVoltaic – A stationary system with semi-transparent, movable solar panels that regulate temperature, improve soil moisture, and reduce grape sunburn.
• VitiCULT – A mobile, retractable system designed for newly planted vineyards, offering flexible protection with minimal infrastructure.
Prof. Dr. Manfred Stoll will share insights from field trials at Hochschule Geisenheim, discussing how these innovations impact on grapevine growth and resilience against heat stress, water scarcity, and extreme weather. We will also explore how agrivoltaic systems align with SWR’s Sustainable Viticulture Protocol (SVP), a science-based framework guiding growers towards practical, measurable sustainability outcomes.
Following the discussion, attendees will have the exclusive opportunity to taste wines produced using the VitiVoltaic system, experiencing firsthand how innovative vineyard management influences the final wine.
Prof. Dr. Manfred Stoll
Head of Institute, Department of Viticulture at Hochschule Geisenheim University
Peter Stanbury
Research Director of Sustainable Wine Roundtable
Delaney Sheridan
Operations Manager at Sustainable Wine Roundtable
- Glass Half Full? The Future of Sustainable Wine Packaging
Madalena Da Silva Moreira•Peter Stanbury•Fran Draper•Delaney SheridanGlass bottles are synonymous with wine—but can they remain the industry’s go-to packaging choice in an era of carbon reduction, circularity, and shifting consumer expectations? The challenges facing glass are mounting: high emissions from production, pressure to increase recycled content, the complexities of reuse systems, and the push for lightweighting.
In this dynamic panel discussion, we bring together key players across the supply chain to tackle these critical questions:
• What will it take to meaningfully reduce the carbon footprint of glass— and how can producers, suppliers, and retailers work together to accelerate progress?
• Does lightweighting compromise quality and consumer perception, or is it an opportunity to rethink wine packaging ?
• What innovations and investments are glass manufacturers bringing to the table? How can the broader industry support and scale these efforts?
We’ll also explore The SWR Bottle Weight Accord, an industry-led commitment driving carbon reduction across the supply chain. This session will challenge assumptions, explore tensions between sustainability and tradition, and outline practical steps producers can take today to future-proof their packaging choices.
Madalena Da Silva Moreira
Oenologist at EncircPeter Stanbury
Research Director of Sustainable Wine Roundtable
Fran Draper
Drinks industry marketing and sustainability specialist at BoutinotDelaney Sheridan
Operations Manager at Sustainable Wine Roundtable
- Carbon Counts: The Wine Industry’s Path to Transparent Reporting
Sara Norell•Peter Stanbury•Fran Draper•Tobias WebbAs the wine industry faces increasing regulatory pressures and climate-driven challenges, carbon reporting is no longer optional—it’s essential. But navigating the complexity of emissions tracking, Scope 3 reporting, and supply chain data collection remains a major hurdle for producers, distributors, and retailers alike.
This interactive panel discussion will explore how industry leaders are tackling these issues head-on, from developing practical methodologies for tracking emissions to integrating sustainability into everyday decision-making. The session will examine how companies are working to move beyond generic carbon estimates, with initiatives like Systembolaget’s Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) methodology, which seeks to improve reporting accuracy and enhance supply chain transparency. It will also explore how carbon literacy training is being used to embed emissions awareness across organisations, ensuring that sustainability isn’t just a reporting exercise but a driver of meaningful change.
Bringing together perspectives from across the wine value chain, the discussion will provide practical insights into how the wine industry can collaborate to enhance transparency, mitigate greenwashing, and transition from carbon pledges to credible, measurable action.
What to Expect:
• The Big Picture: Understanding why carbon reporting is now essential for the wine industry, with increasing regulatory pressures and the urgent need to track emissions more accurately.
• Industry Insights: Learn about practical methodologies for emissions tracking, including Systembolaget’s Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) methodology, and how businesses can move beyond default estimates to primary data.
• Challenges & Solutions: Explore the complexities of Scope 3 reporting, supply chain data collection, and how the wine industry can collaborate to improve transparency and mitigate greenwashing.
• Strategies in Action: Hear how companies are embedding emissions awareness across their organisations through carbon literacy training and shifting sustainability from a compliance exercise to a business driver.
Sara Norell
Chief Assortment, Purchasing & Supplychain Officer at SystembolagetPeter Stanbury
Research Director of Sustainable Wine RoundtableFran Draper
Drinks industry marketing and sustainability specialist at Boutinot
Tobias Webb
Founder of Sustainable Wine Roundtable
- Routes to Sustainability: Decoding & Decarbonising Wine Logistics
Carolin Haas•Delaney SheridanWhile sustainable viticulture and winemaking often take centre stage in climate discussions, packaging and transportation are among the biggest drivers of emissions in the wine industry—yet often remain overlooked. This interactive workshop, co-hosted with Hillebrand Gori, will open the black box of wine logistics, shedding light on the key sustainability challenges and opportunities that exist in the supply chain.
Participants will gain practical insights into decarbonizing wine transportation, from optimizing supply chains and leveraging modal shifts to integrating sustainable fuels and alternative routing. The session will also outline concrete steps for businesses looking to take action, including measuring carbon footprints, setting reduction targets, and scaling low-emission solutions across supply chains.
To bring these concepts to life, we will use tangible case studies to compare and explore different approaches to reducing carbon emissions in wine transportation. By examining real-world examples, we’ll illustrate how producers, importers, distributors, and retailers can make informed decisions to lower their carbon footprint while maintaining efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Whether you’re looking to refine your logistics strategy, align with sustainability goals, or gain a deeper understanding of the wine supply chain’s impact, this session will provide the insights and tools needed to take meaningful action.
Carolin Haas
Global Head of GoGreen Program / Sustainability at HillebrandGoriDelaney Sheridan
Operations Manager at Sustainable Wine Roundtable
- Sustainable Silvaner
Harald Scholl•Peter StanburySilvaner stands out as a naturally resilient and sustainable grape variety—an increasingly valuable trait as climate change reshapes viticulture. Its remarkable heat resistance allows it to thrive in diverse growing regions, particularly in dry years when other varieties may struggle. Rising temperatures not only enhance Silvaner’s aromatic complexity and structure but also enable greater fruit concentration in warmer locations without compromising freshness. With careful vineyard management that considers soil health and water management, Silvaner can be successfully and sustainably cultivated.
Hosted at the Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR) booth, this session will explore how sustainable viticulture practices are evolving to help producers future-proof their vineyards, using Silvaner as a case study in climate resilience and adaptability.
Join Harald Scholl, Editor-in-Chief of VINUM Germany, alongside renowned VDP winemakers Rudolf May, Rainer Sauer, and Weingut Am Stein, as they share their experiences cultivating Silvaner in a changing climate and their remarkable success with this grape variety.
Immediately following the discussion, small groups will visit the three wineries at the VDP booth, where each producer will showcase the depth and evolution of their Silvaner vintages.
Register by March 12, 2025, here:
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=DQSIkWdsW0yxEjajBLZtrQAAAAAAAAAAAAO__SLS7C5UNERINURQUERYRFI5NkdFVFNMNFpQQ1c5OS4u&route=shorturl
Harald Scholl
Editor-in-chief at VINUM WeinmagazinPeter Stanbury
Research Director of Sustainable Wine Roundtable
- PCF Workshop • Measuring What Matters: The Product Carbon Footprint Methodology
Peter Stanbury•Marcus Ihre•Tobias WebbAccurate carbon reporting remains one of the biggest challenges in the wine industry. Many businesses rely on default emissions factors, but these broad estimates often fail to capture real sustainability efforts—leading to misleading comparisons, missed opportunities, and inconsistent reporting across markets.
To address this, Systembolaget, Sweden’s alcohol monopoly, has developed a Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) methodology, shifting from generic emissions estimates to product-specific primary data. This session will provide an inside look at the PCF approach, sharing insights from Systembolaget’s pilot study and exploring how this data-driven method can enhance transparency, credibility, and emissions reductions.
Beyond the PCF, the discussion will examine broader challenges in emissions reporting, and the need for industry-wide collaboration.Peter Stanbury
Research Director of Sustainable Wine Roundtable
Marcus Ihre
Sustainability Manager at SystembolagetTobias Webb
Founder of Sustainable Wine Roundtable
- Rethinking the Wine List: Practical Strategies for a More Sustainable On-Trade
Tobias Webb•Krister Bengtsson•Sarah SimonnetRestaurants and wine bars are under increasing pressure to curate wine lists that are both environmentally responsible and commercially viable—but with so many factors at play, from vineyard practices to packaging choices, where should they start? How can they ask the right questions, engage suppliers for real impact, and translate sustainability into a story that resonates with guests?
This session, hosted by the Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR) and Star Wine List, will explore how restaurants can integrate sustainability into their wine programs, from selecting wines with credible sustainability credentials to making better packaging choices and managing waste efficiently.
What to Expect:
• The Big Picture: SWR will introduce its Global Reference Framework (GRF), a comprehensive guide defining best practices across vineyard management, winemaking, and packaging, helping restaurants make smarter sourcing decisions.
• Industry Insights: Star Wine List will share examples of successful sustainable restaurants and wine bars around the world - winners in the prestigious Star Wine List of the Year awards - and their actions that have excited the jury panels.
• And hear from Sarah Simonnet, Head Sommelier at Star Wine List of the Year finalist Frea in Berlin about their sustainability work in practice.
• Strategies in Action:
• What can the on-trade do going forward - what are operational changes that make sustainability work in a real-world restaurant setting. Panel discussion and key take aways.
Join us for practical approaches, expert insights, and actionable strategies to build a wine program that’s sustainable, forward-thinking, and ready to drive meaningful change.Tobias Webb
Founder of Sustainable Wine Roundtable
Krister Bengtsson
Founder of Star Wine List
Sarah Simonnet
Head Sommelier at Frea Berlin