Sep 04, 2026
Two Sides of the Sustainable Vineyard: Viticulture
In the latest SWR webinar, Research Director Dr Peter Stanbury was joined by Silvina van Houten (Catena Institute of Wine), Gregory Gladwin (Nutbourne Vineyards), and Mike Rees (Torre Bisenzio) to discuss initial findings from the Sustainable Vineyard Practice Survey, with a focus on viticulture.
The panel shared real-life examples from their vineyards and perspectives on how growers across different regions are tackling water stress, soil health, pest pressure, and the practical steps being taken to build resilience in the vineyard.
Key Takeaways
A few takeaways from the discussion:
- Climate volatility is one of the central challenges facing viticulture. Heat, aridity, intense rainfall, hail and shifting seasonal patterns are disrupting vineyards across regions including Argentina, Italy and the UK.
- Healthy soils underpin long-term resilience. The panel pointed to cover crops, compost, grazing, water retention, and soil monitoring as the foundation for healthier vines and better adaptation to weather extremes.
- Precision over blanket treatment. Growers are increasingly relying on local knowledge, data, and trials to target interventions rather than spraying or treating uniformly, an approach that Nutbourne Vineyards used to cut spray rounds from 15 to 6 times a year.
- Testing and monitoring guide decision-making. Catena Zapata trials practices under local conditions with controls, while Torre Bisenzio uses soil mapping and satellite monitoring to inform its choices.
- Financial and environmental sustainability go hand in hand. With margin pressure and labour costs remaining major constraints, panelists stressed that efficient labour use and supply-chain feedback are just as critical as environmental gains.
- Evidence and storytelling build consumer trust. Sharing vineyard-level stories and experiences, rather than relying solely on certification badges, can make sustainability more meaningful to consumers, though certifications still offer valuable discipline.
Want to get involved?
- Fill out the Sustainable Vineyard Practice Survey.
- Read about the Sustainable Vineyard here.
Interested or have any questions? Contact Luke Mobley at luke@swroundtable.org.
Featured members
Catena Institute of Wine
Producer
Torre Bisenzio
Producer
