Innovation and glass bottles

Manufacturing glass bottles is a carbon intensive process and wine producers looking to manage their Scope 3 packaging emissions will be keen to partner with companies offering strategic carbon emissions management. In Cheshire, northwest England, the largest glass furnaces in the world are located at the Encirc factory in Elton. The intense heat and rawContinue reading “Innovation and glass bottles”

Grapegrower and Winemaker: Sustainability in Drinks Conference 2025

Image credit: Thomas Skovsende The second Sustainability in Drinks conference took place in London, October 2025. Founded by Judy Kendrick and Janet Harrison working with sustainability consultants Anne Jones and Fran Draper, the annual event brought together sustainability experts, products and services from eight different countries for around 300 attendees. To read more click here.

Grapegrower and Winemaker: The business of sustainability

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons In this article for Australian and New Zealand Grapegrower & Winemaker, I look at how sustainability and its associated goals have evolved. Carbon is being counted, emissions monitored and footprints measured, effectively changing the business environment in which the wine industry operates. To read about initiatives that are helping producers toContinue reading “Grapegrower and Winemaker: The business of sustainability”

evokeAG: Through the looking glass

Biotechnology is changing the lens through which we understand biology, and in doing so is transforming our approach to health and nutrition. In this article for evokeAG, I review four companies and their innovative applications of a rapid developing field. To read more click here. Image credit: Andrey Nagaycev, Wikimedia Commons

Grapegrower and Winemaker: Synthetic Biology – application

Image credit: Australian and New Zealand Grapegrower & Winemaker, July 2023 issue In this, the third of four articles, the application of Synthetic Biology is considered. The learnings gained from research and its application continue to contribute to our understanding of wine production and vine cultivation. Furthermore, the precision with which Synthetic Biology may beContinue reading “Grapegrower and Winemaker: Synthetic Biology – application”

Wine Industry Advisor: Sustainable Packaging

The Frugal Bottle. Image credit: Frugalpac An ongoing challenge for wine production relates to packaging, specifically the energy-hungry production and recycling of traditional glass bottles. Three companies are offering creative solutions to balance a preference for wine in-bottle with sustainability. Click here to read more.

Grapegrower and Winemaker: Fungicide Resistance

Field sample collection for rapid testing. Image credit: Lincoln Harper, Centre for Crop and Disease Management, Curtin University Botrytis, powdery mildew and downy mildew cost the wine industry more than $200 million dollars each year according to Wine Australia estimates. In this article I look at two techniques for managing pathogen populations in the vineyard.Continue reading “Grapegrower and Winemaker: Fungicide Resistance”

Grapegrower and Winemaker: Data standards in vineyard technology

Shutterstock image provided courtesy of Map of Agriculture Group. Advances in viti-specific technology have demonstrable gains for the wine industry that include increased operational efficiencies, quality data for research and biosecurity, and improved certification and credential management. Digital and geospatial mapping is the foundation upon which much of this technology is built in preparation forContinue reading “Grapegrower and Winemaker: Data standards in vineyard technology”

Halliday Wine Companion Magazine: Technology and Tradition

Croptide sensors at Stoneleigh Vineyard, Marlborough, New Zealand. Credit: Pernod Ricard Winemakers. Bringing technology and tradition together in perfect harmony hits the right note for the future of wine. From smart watches for vines to self-driving tractors, technology is helping producers improve their green credentials while focusing on what they do best – creating aContinue reading “Halliday Wine Companion Magazine: Technology and Tradition”