Welsh wine producers: developing a collaborative approach to sustainable production and consumption

Project Overview

We have identified a group of Welsh wine producers who wish to establish collaborative working practices to resolve a number of issues relating to the long term viability of the Welsh wine making industry. The vineyards involved include:

•  * Parva Farm Vineyard

•  * Whitecastle Vineyard

•  * Werndu Organics

•  * Meadow View Farm

•  * Ancre Hill Estates

•  * Glyndwr Vineyard

• Our research has identified a number of groundbreaking initiatives that are happening across the globe that are leading the way in creating a sustainable, profitable future for the wine industry. For example:

•  * New Zealand

•  * Australia

•  * California

•  * South Africa

•  * Chile

Delivered through a series of workshops the project will raise awareness amongst the businesses involved to embrace sustainable production and consumption. It will create appropriate communications to maximise the commercial benefits to all businesses that commit to this approach and raise the international profile of Welsh wine.

 

Specific activities include:

• Creation of a unique Welsh wine producer commitment to sustainable production and consumption;

• Creation of a brand-mark of sustainability that can be used by all businesses that sign up to the   Commitment;

• Development of appropriate communication methods (eg. logo featured on bottle, websitewith details of businesses registered, specific section for sustainability within marketing leaflet) to identify the brand mark as a symbol of quality whilst providing a unique selling point for the businesses involved.        

It is intended that this work can inform and support the work being undertaken by the UK Vineyards Association and vice versa.

The project leader is Iain Cox.

Alan Chubb of Quions Organic Vineyard and part of the UKVA sustainability committee is a mentor to this project.

 

 

 

 

Progress update

Update: 21 May 2010

Further meetings of the group have led to a consensus about the creation of a Sustainable Welsh Wine brand. The brand will embody principles of sustainable development in the production and distribution of the wine.

A new logo will be launched during Welsh Wine Week at the end of May. At present this only reflects a pledge by the participating vineyards to developing the approach further.

Update: 22 March 2010

 

A group of wine producers has been formed through SSC market research which was lead by Susie Gardner (SSC Project Assistant).

Following an initial roundtable discussion with the group in November 2009 SSC undertook further research which provided fresh evidence from the international marketplace. This research enabled us to put recommendations to the group for several approaches that will provide commercial benefit.

Commitment to an approach that will enable the group to embrace sustainable practices was agreed at a workshop held in February 2010. Some roles have been assigned to individual producers in the group.