Sustainability Articles - Wine Industry Digest

British growers adapting to new crops

UK Hort News Sep 16, 2026 Sustainability

British growers are capitalising on changing climate conditions to experiment with crops previously impossible to cultivate in the UK, including an expansion of vineyards alongside tea production in Cornwall and melons in Devon. This shift reflects how warmer temperatures are opening new agricultural opportunities across the country, with growers diversifying into everything from lupins to butternut squash. It's a sign of how UK viticulture continues to adapt and grow in response to environmental conditions.

Dr Peter Stanbury on the business case for sustainablity in drinks

UK The Buyer Sep 10, 2026 Sustainability

Dr Peter Stanbury explains why sustainability isn't just good for the planet, it's good for the bottom line in the drinks industry. From cutting costs and managing supply chain risks to building brand loyalty and accessing new markets, there's a solid commercial case for investing in sustainable practices that goes well beyond corporate responsibility.

UK hosepipe ban update: Nine water companies imposing hosepipe bans as drought deepens

UK The Dirt Horticulture News Aug 13, 2026 Sustainability

Nine water companies across England and Wales have now imposed temporary use bans as drought conditions intensify. The restrictions will impact vineyard irrigation, cellar cleaning, and hospitality operations across affected regions, creating operational challenges for producers and venues reliant on reliable water supply during what's typically a critical period for harvest preparation and service.

Almost three-quarters of England in drought as horticulture calls for water resilience

UK The Dirt Horticulture News Aug 10, 2026 Sustainability

Drought conditions are intensifying across England, with over 71% of the country now officially in drought. The government is calling it a 'flash drought' caused by unusually low rainfall and higher temperatures. For England's growing wine regions, this could spell challenges for irrigation, harvest planning, and vineyard health in the months ahead.

NFU calls for urgent water resilience action

UK Hort News Aug 3, 2026 Sustainability

The NFU is pressing for urgent action on water security as drought conditions grip parts of the UK following a third heatwave this year. With farmers and growers needing reliable access to water to maintain food production, the call highlights a critical challenge facing UK agriculture, including vineyards, as climate pressures increase.

LWF: IWCA partners with wine retailers to launch free carbon calculator

UK Harpers Wine & Spirit May 19, 2026 Sustainability

International Wineries for Climate Action has teamed up with two leading UK retailers, Berry Bros. & Rudd and The Wine Society, to launch the Carbon Calculation Challenge 2026. The initiative provides wineries with a free carbon calculator to help them measure and understand their emissions, making it easier for producers to track their environmental impact and work towards sustainability goals.

English wine makers suffer worst spring frost in 10 years

UK The Telegraph May 18, 2026 Sustainability

English wine makers have been hit by their worst spring frost in a decade, threatening vineyard harvests across the country. The late frost damage comes at a critical time for the buds and young growth on vines, potentially impacting both yields and wine quality for the coming vintage. This significant weather event underscores the ongoing climate challenges facing England's rapidly growing wine industry.

Commitment to sustainability

UK Vineyard Magazine Apr 27, 2026 Sustainability

WineGB has relaunched its Sustainable Wines of Great Britain (SWGB) certification scheme with an important new addition, introducing a dedicated module focused on people and social responsibility. The scheme, which now covers 43% of UK vineyard land across 41 certified producers, has been expanded to recognise workforce wellbeing, skills development, and responsible employment practices alongside environmental sustainability. According to WineGB's CEO, this enhanced approach reflects the industry's commitment to meeting climate challenges and evolving consumer expectations whilst supporting recruitment and retention in the sector.

WineGB Accelerates Sustainability Drive with Relaunch of National Certification for UK Wine

UK WineGB Mar 30, 2026 Sustainability

WineGB has relaunched its Sustainable Wines of Great Britain certification scheme, now covering 43% of UK planted vineyards. The refreshed programme includes a brand new focus on social sustainability, recognising the importance of workforce wellbeing, skills development, and responsible employment practices alongside environmental commitments. With 79 members already signed up, the scheme demonstrates how the UK wine industry is embedding sustainability at its core and working to attract and retain talent in the sector.

Management systems provide frost-related vineyard crop protection

UK WineGB Mar 5, 2026 Sustainability

UK vineyards are getting a technological boost to tackle one of their biggest challenges: spring frost. The 'Vineyard Frost' project, funded by Innovate UK and Defra, is developing smart forecasting systems that give vineyard managers early warning of frost events and help them protect their crops more efficiently. By creating site-specific predictions, the project aims to reduce the expensive, labour-intensive methods currently used whilst adapting to climate change's impact on earlier budburst. It's a practical innovation that could transform how UK vineyards manage this perennial threat.

English wine’s golden age faces a tiny villain

UK The Drinks Business Feb 16, 2026 Sustainability

Just as English and Welsh vineyards are celebrating their best harvest on record after the driest summer in decades, a tiny pest called spotted wing drosophila is emerging as a growing headache for growers. Unlike other fruit flies, SWD can actually pierce grape skin to lay its eggs, creating entry points for rot rather than just exploiting existing damage. The insect has quietly established itself across vineyards in the region and industry leaders are now starting to develop strategies to manage what could become a significant threat to future vintages.

Tim Etherington-Judge launches sustainability operating system for drinks brands

UK Drinks International Feb 12, 2026 Sustainability

Tim Etherington-Judge, the founder behind Healthy Hospo and Avallen Spirits, has launched Alkatera, a new digital sustainability tool designed to help drinks brands manage their environmental impact. The platform acts as a sustainability operating system for the drinks industry, offering a way for producers to track and improve their practices. It's a significant move for the sector, as sustainability credentials become increasingly important to consumers and retailers alike.

Packamama plumps for PEF over PET in industry first

UK The Drinks Business Jan 19, 2026 Sustainability

Packamama, the packaging firm behind the distinctive flat plastic bottles stocked by retailers like The Wine Society, is switching to a new eco-friendly material called polyethylene furanoate (PEF). The company claims this newly patented material outperforms traditional recycled PET plastic, marking an industry first for wine packaging.

Lightweight bottles embraced by the wine industry

UK The Drinks Business Jan 16, 2026 Sustainability

The wine industry is increasingly turning to lightweight bottles as producers seek to reduce their environmental footprint and operational costs. These bottles use less glass and energy to produce while maintaining quality, making them an attractive option for wineries looking to improve sustainability credentials. It's a practical example of how the industry is adapting to meet both consumer expectations and commercial pressures.

Why sustainability is about empowerment and finding meaning

UK The Drinks Business Jan 14, 2026 Sustainability

The Drinks Business explores how empowering workers to drive sustainability initiatives is actually getting results across the wine sector. They chat with folks like Champagne Canard-Duchêne and Lanchester Group about how genuine, sincere environmental programmes resonate better with staff and how one UK bottling warehouse hit 92% recycling rates when their team felt they had real ownership of the goals.

The forgotten cost of sustainability

UK The Drinks Business Jan 13, 2026 Sustainability

Tom Bruce-Gardyne's piece in The Drinks Business highlights something that's getting lost in all the sustainability talk: growers actually need to make money. It's a fair point - English wine producers and estates across Europe are investing heavily in organic certification and better farming practices, but the market hasn't caught up, so the premiums have basically disappeared. The piece features voices from Greyfriars in Surrey and the Sustainable Wine Roundtable, all pointing out that environmental and social sustainability mean zilch if producers can't stay afloat financially.

Why regenerative viticulture is the soil story winemakers need to tell

UK The Buyer Dec 4, 2025 Sustainability

The Buyer dives into regenerative viticulture and why winemakers should be talking more about soil health as part of their story. It's a solid piece on how soil management practices are becoming a key differentiator for producers across the UK and EU who want to appeal to increasingly conscious consumers.

‘It just makes sense’: Why in-market bottling is winning the sustainability battle

UK The Drinks Business Dec 2, 2025 Sustainability

UK in-market bottlers are seeing a real surge in demand for bulk wine shipments, with sustainability benefits that're hard to ignore. Kingsland Drinks reckons they're moving nearly 72% more wine per container when it comes in bulk rather than bottled, plus they're keeping the glass manufacturing local to Manchester—which cuts down massively on transport emissions. It's becoming the default approach for long-haul exports now, and retailers are actively pushing for it.