Lessons on Climate Resilience from Old Vines

Old vines have survived heatwaves, drought, disease pressure, and shifting markets — often with fewer inputs and remarkable consistency. Their resilience isn’t theoretical. But what, exactly, can we learn from them?In this practical Climate Talk, our guests will share concrete lessons from managing old vineyards under climate stress. We’ll explore how deep root systems enhance water resilience, why natural vine balance reduces intervention, what genetic diversity offers in terms of adaptation, and how decades of site knowledge translate into smarter decisions today.

Hosted by Marta Mendonça - The Porto ProtocolJoin us for a dynamic talk on decarbonizing wine packaging, featuring diverse perspectives from alternative packaging innovators, the glass industry, a reusable bottle scheme, and a retailer. This discussion brings together key stakeholders to explore real solutions and actions driving the wine industry toward a lower-carbon future. SpeakersMadalena Moreira - Encirc (UK)Katahrina Kleiner - Weincampus Neustadt (Germany)Ciaram Dickson - Frugal Pack (UK)Marcus Llhe - Systembolaget (Sweden)Who’s who at the talk?Marta MendonçaWith nearly two decades in Marketing & Sales, Marta Mendonça has worked across diverse industries, from telecommunications to wine & spirits. In 2016, she founded her own consultancy, promoting sustainability and climate advocacy. Since 2019, she has led The Porto Protocol Foundation, driving global collaboration on climate action in wine. She holds degrees in International Relations, Marketing, and Corporate Social Responsibility.Madalena MoreiraA Portuguese oenologist with global experience, Madalena Moreira ensures wine quality at Encirc. Having worked in top wine regions worldwide, she specializes in sensory analysis and bottling precision. Passionate about sustainability, she strives to make the drinks industry more efficient and environmentally responsible.Katahrina Kleinerworking with Marc Dressler at Weincampus Neustadt as a research assistant, before I worked in the wine industry with a Bachelor of Science in Viticulture and Enology and Master of Arts in International Wine Marketing.Ciaram DicksonCiaran is the Commercial Manager for Machine Systems at Frugalpac, the company behind the innovative paper Frugal Bottle. He is responsible for overseeing the international sales of the Frugal Bottle Assembly Machine, supporting their mission to decarbonise the wine and spirits industry.Marcus LlheMaster of Science in Chemical Engineering from the early 1990´s, complemented by post studies in International Marketing and Trade. After university he has been working for various private and public organizations, with focus on sustainability from the start. Among other things he has been involved in research of substitutes to freons, ecolabelling, plastic collection and recycling, development of international sustainability standards like ISO 14001 and ISO 26000. At Systembolaget Marcus focuses on the environmental impact and performance in the supply chain, from the farm level to the shops.

Hosted by Fran Draper from Fran Draper Consultancy & Porto ProtocolThree winery owners and winemakers will share practical insights on how you intertwine sustainability & profitability, implement a holistic strategy across the business, and overall inspiration to other company leaders of every size.SpeakersAntonio Mendonça - Soalheiro (Portugal)Belinda Jackson - Lawson's Dry Hills (NZ)Miriam Mascarenhas - Herdade dos Grous - (Portugal)Wines to tasteSoalheiro Primeras Vinhas Alvarinho 2023Sauvignon Blanc - Lawson's Dry Hills (NZ)Herdade dos Grous Tinto 2023Who’s who in the talk?Fran DraperUK-based communications consultant specializing in PR, copywriting, and digital marketing. She supports charities, cultural organizations, and creative projects with strategic storytelling and media outreach. With a strong community-focused approach, she helps clients amplify their voice and impact. Fran brings clarity, creativity, and purpose to every communications project she undertakes.Antonio MendonçaBorn in Porto, António Mendonça is an agricultural engineer with extensive experience in the wine sector, from Port to Vinho Verde. Passionate about viticulture, he joined Soalheiro in 2024 and owns a small vineyard.Belinda JacksonBelinda’s passion for wine began in Bordeaux in the 1980s, leading to key sales and marketing roles in the UK and NZ. She has sourced wines globally, managed brands, and developed marketing strategies, also founding two major NZ wine competitions. A published author and former Radio NZ wine commentator, she joined Lawson’s Dry Hills in 2014.Miriam Mascarenhas: Graduated in Chemistry from the University of Évora. She joined the Herdade dos Grous team in 2011, where she currently works as Quality and Sustainability Manager. Being responsible for implementing the Quality and Environmental Management Systems, the Sustainable Production certification from the Wines of Alentejo Sustainability Program, the National Sustainable Wine growing certification and the ISO 14064 for carbon footprint and GHG emissions inventory.

In this episode, Adrian Bridge, CEO of The Fladgate Partnership, shares the story behind founding The Porto Protocol — the wine industry’s climate action network. From his non-traditional start in wine to leading global sustainability efforts, Adrian reflects on the initiative’s biggest successes, the power of collaboration, and the urgent priorities ahead. Recorded live at ProWein, this conversation dives into how businesses can engage with climate action, the challenges of keeping it top of mind, and the value of joining a network committed to change.About Adrian Bridge:Adrian is CEO of The Fladgate Partnership, which owns renowned Port houses like Taylor’s and Croft. A driving force behind wine tourism in Porto, he also spearheaded the creation of The Yeatman Hotel and the cultural district WOW – World of Wine.Prof. Dr. Simone Loose has led the Institute for Wine and Beverage Business at Geisenheim University since 2015. With a background in economics, she has conducted research in consumer behavior, wine marketing, and market research methods in Germany, Australia, and Denmark. She has held academic positions at the University of South Australia and Aarhus University and is an Adjunct Senior Research Associate at the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute. A recognized expert, she has published extensively on wine and food marketing.

This was the first of a series of talks in partnership with Etienne Neethling that engage with leading scientists to explore cutting-edge research on wine, sustainability, and climate change. In this 1st edition, we’ll interview Stefano Poni, a renowned expert on sustainable viticulture from the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Piacenza, Italy.

This climate talk is hosted in partnership with the Regenerative Viticulture Foundation (RVF) and is titled Natural Predators in Vineyards: From Bats to Insectivorous Birds of Prey, this session will explore how the remarkable biodiversity of vineyards can be harnessed to control pests naturally. From bats and rodent hunters to mealybug destroyers and insectivorous birds, we’ll dive into the vital roles these predators play in supporting ecosystem balance while reducing the need for chemical interventions. Together, we’ll uncover actionable insights on fostering biodiversity and creating healthier, more resilient vineyards. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how nature’s allies can transform vineyard management!

As vineyards face climate challenges and biodiversity loss, agroforestry offers a promising way forward—blending trees, shrubs, and diverse flora to enhance soil health, biodiversity, and resilience. Yet, there are no one-size-fits-all solutions, and much remains uncertain.This second edition, in partnership with the Regenerative Viticulture Foundation, deepens the conversation, sharing insights, case studies, and ongoing learning in the journey toward climate-conscious, sustainable wine growing.Panelists:🍇 Anne Jones (Regenerative Viticulture Foundation)🌿 Emmanuel Bourguignon (LAMS-21/France)🌿 Katia Nussbaum (San polino/Italy)🌿Olga Barbosa (Universidad Austral de Chile)

The water footprint (WF) of a product is an indicator of the consumptive use of water resources along its life cycle. Water scarcity is recognized to be a major global challenge. As such, the evaluation of the WF of agro-industrial products is key, as they are widely known as having a significant footprint on water resources.  According to the Water Footprint Network The global average water footprint of grapes is 610 liter/kg. One kilogram of grapes results in 0.7 liter of wine, so the water footprint of wine is APPROXIMATELY 870 liters of water per liter of wine. This means that one glass of wine (125 ml) costs 110 liters (a). Even knowing that the vine has a capacity for survival and resilience to austere climates, as we speak, the increased production of grapes and wine, combined with droughts and climate change, sore than ever, water needs to be used efficiently. Therefore, there is a need to understand where and how we can improve water management in the wine life cycle, reduce it, or even eliminate it.   THE DISCUSSION This Climate Talk addresses this issue and tries to identify the major challenges to the use of water throughout grape and wine production in this warming climate. In this conversation, we will analyze the importance of efficient use of water and explore the best technologies and practices available both in the field and on the wineries. To do so, we will count on different guests from around the world. GUESTS Michele Manelli (Salcheto, Italy) Andrej Razumovsky (Alpamanta, Argentina) Aaron Schreiber-Stainthorp (Jackson Family Wines, USA) HOST João Barroso (WASP - Wines of Alentejo Sustainability Programme, Portugal)

Our first one-to-one Climate Talk will be a discussion between Greg Jones (Climatologist and CEO at Abacela) and Etienne Neethling (Head of the international master program in vine, wine, and terroir management at the Ecole Supérieure de L’Agriculture and an OIV expert within the ENVIRO group). They will be exploring what wine regions are similar in its various dimensions, from soil to grape varieties. DISCUSSION TOPICS What is a climate analogue? Which bioclimatic indices are specific to grape and wine production and how do we calculate them? Which wine regions have similar climates? Is climate change a major environmental challenge for the wine sector? Can European wine regions draw on viticultural lessons from warmer and drier wine regions in countries like South Africa or Australia? What are the opportunities and challenges for emerging cool wine production regions or regions? Click HERE for the presentation https://youtu.be/FsgmBONlkEU

Our partners at The Regenerative Viticulture Foundation challenged us to open our climate talks space for their trustee, Caine Thompson (O'Neill Vintners & Distillers). Caine will share in detail O’Neill’s transition toward regenerative organic practices and the findings from their three-year comparison studies. This is an unmissable presentation and discussion! GUESTS: Caine Thompson (Head of Sustainability, O’Neill Vintners & Distillers | Managing Director, Robert Hall Winery) Emmanuel Bourgignon (Porto Protocol Living Vineyards’ Leading Teams) Charlie Dubbe – Agrology HOST Anne Jones (Regenerative Viticulture Foundation)