At IWCA, we have a unique and critical opportunity: to reach consumers, wine critics, wine trade partners, and media to focus attention on climate change across the wine industry. That’s why awareness-raising is a core pillar of IWCA’s mission.
One way we have worked to do so is through industry events and conferences. 2022 has been a busy year for us and our member wineries as we have worked to elevate environmental issues in the sector.
Vinexpo Paris
14-16 February 2022
Several IWCA wineries represented at the event, one of Europe’s most significant and largest wine industry events.
Barcelona Wine Week
4-6 April 2022
Four Spanish IWCA member wineries (Alma Carraovejas, Bodega Emina, Herència Altés, and Familia Torres) collaborated to put on an IWCA booth at the Barcelona Wine Week fair. The wineries also hosted a roundtable titled, “IWCA, towards the decarbonization of the wine industry.”
After hearing IWCA wineries discuss the importance of climate-friendly wine during the Barcelona Wine Week roundtable, Chef Jordi Esteve of the Barcelona-based, 1 Michelin star restaurant Nectari announced that he would reserve a special place on his wine list for IWCA member wineries. Nectari has since redesigned its wine list to spotlight climate-friendly wine and IWCA member wineries’ efforts!
ProWein
15-17 May 2022
Not only were IWCA member wineries well represented at this leading wine industry event, but IWCA used the occasion to host our first “unofficial” in-person gathering since the start of Covid-19 pandemic! Fifteen IWCA wineries met at the Primum Familae Vini booth to toast IWCA, hosted by Miguel A. Torres, Rob Symington, and Charles Perrin.
Napa Thrives
7-23 June 2022
The six-event series, spread throughout the month of June, focused on bringing the Napa County (California) wine industry together to set a standard for sustainability and climate action for the global wine industry. IWCA was featured in several ways:
IWCA, along with the Porto Protocol, served as co-sponsors for Day 6 of the event, which had a theme of Climate Action & Regenerative Farming.
Day 3 featured a workshop run by IWCA member Spottswoode Winery & Family Estates on “Going True Zero Waste” and a workshop hosted by IWCA member Crimson Wine Group on how to “Lighten Up & Ship Green.”
Day 6 featured a workshop run by Spottswoode on GHG inventories and tackling Scope 3 emissions. Our Board Member Julien Gervreau spoke on an expert panel on navigating the evolving finance and ESG landscape.
Sustainable Wine Roundtable Global Conference
22-23 June 2023
IWCA Board Member Josep Maria Ribas Portella, Climate Change & Sustainability Director at Familia Torres, participated in a panel on "Carbon accounting: Harmonising the metrics and methodologies. Is standardisation a realistic goal?" panel.
Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference & Trade Exhibition
26-29 June 2022
IWCA participated virtually, contributing to a pre-recorded presentation and live discussion. The presentation showcased the climate action efforts of several different IWCA wineries from across the globe. IWCA Applicant winery Hill-Smith Family Estates also participated in three different panels related to science, technology, and wine quality and innovation.
Wine Scholar Guild Webinar
6 September 2022
IWCA Board Member Josep Maria Ribas Portella was a panelist in the Wine Scholar Guild “Meeting of the Minds” webinar on Climate Change.
The Institute of Master of Wine Webinar Series
7 September 2022
IWCA Board Member Rob Symington, Fifth Generation and Director, Symington Family Estates, was a panelist in the “Climate Change – Where are we at?” webinar.
Bordeaux Mentor Week
September 2022
This program, offered by leading wine critic Jane Anson and industry partners, aimed to open up knowledge and access of Bordeaux wines, winemaking, methods of distribution, and the potential of the sector to young sommeliers or early career wine professionals. IWCA member Château Troplong Mondot took part in the event and introduced the seven participating scholars to IWCA.
Chartered Quality Institute Sustainability Special Interest Group Webinar
24 November 2022
IWCA Board Member Josep Maria Ribas Portella was a panelist in the “Developing a Sustainability Conscience: Sharing Good Practice” webinar, presenting on how IWCA is the gold standard for carbon accounting and climate action in the wine sector.
We are proud of our work to bright new attention to the impacts of climate change on wine within and outside the industry through events and media in 2022. Our work is only just beginning – we look forward to continuing to drive these efforts forward in 2023!