Could Reuse Be the Future of Wine Packaging?
Lightweight glass, recycling, and alternative packaging provide steps towards a greener future, but the ultimate solution lies in reuse
Climate Action & Sustainability in the Drinks Industry
There’s arguably no issue more urgent to the future of our world—and the drinks industry—than climate change. As agricultural products, wine, spirits, and beer are particularly susceptible to our planet’s changing climate—and producers have responded by taking decisive action.
In SevenFifty Daily’s Sustainability Hub, we profile the people, movements, and companies spearheading climate action. From widespread organic farming practices and reimagined zero-emissions production facilities, to packaging and transportation innovations aimed at lowering the industry’s carbon footprint, we’ll be reporting on the inspiring initiatives driving change at local and global scale.
The Path to Zero-Emission Wine Shipping
As the wine industry reckons with the climate impact of its global transportation network, options multiply for decarbonizing freight and shipping
Does Premium Whiskey Need a Box?
Secondary packaging signifies a bottle’s collectable status in the premium whiskey market, but, now that sustainability is top of mind, consumers are shifting their priorities
Sustainability
The Science of Heat Stress in Grapevines
As more vineyards around the world face persistent and intermittent heat stress, researchers and vineyard managers are working to understand how grapevines are coping, and how they can better intervene
Revisiting Maui’s Bar Industry a Year After the Fires
From hiring displaced workers to prioritizing local suppliers, bar professionals in Maui are still rebuilding with the future of the entire community in mind
A Radical New Vineyard Shape for a Warming Climate
Vintners may not be able to change the climate, but they’re attempting to control microclimate through innovative new vine orientation and training approaches
Americans’ Love of Tequila and Beer Is Deepening Mexico’s Water Crisis
As U.S. demand for Mexican beer and spirits fuels industry growth, severe drought in the region complicates that success story and calls for a more sustainable approach
The Rocky Rollout of California’s New Bottle Bill
Expanding the state’s bottle redemption program to include wine and spirits is a massive undertaking, raising concerns—and hopes—from California’s beverage industry
5 Leaders in Sustainable Wine and Spirits Production
Eco-friendly practices—including organic, biodynamic, and regenerative production—are top of mind for winemakers and distillers around the world. These regions and producers are leading the charge
The 8 Best Organic Wines, According to Buyers
Sommeliers, retail buyers, and wine directors share their favorite organic, biodynamic, and sustainable wines
The Wine Industry’s Human Rights Challenge
It’s time to scrutinize the significant labor issues facing the wine sector—and explore the preliminary steps being taken to mitigate them
Designing a More Sustainable Packaging System for the Spirits Industry
EcoSpirits set out to tackle the enormous waste and carbon emissions produced by single-use glass bottles in the beverage industry with a technology and design solution based on reuse
The Benefits of Contour Farming in a Changing Climate
Some vineyard managers are turning to this affordable, natural farming method to combat a growing suite of climate change-related problems, such as drought and soil health
Could Gene Editing Create More Disease-Resistant Grape Varieties?
Using gene-editing technologies like CRISPR, researchers are fighting back against one of the wine industry’s biggest problems—powdery mildew disease
Inside the Movement to Revive Forgotten Grape Varieties
As a means of fighting climate change and preserving history, producers across Europe are reviving grape varieties that have never been cultivated for modern, commercial wine production
A Proposed Pesticide Ban Divides Austrian Vintners
A draft EU proposal would prohibit the use of pesticides in nature reserves—but for winemakers in the challenging region of the Wachau, is there an alternative?
How Mycorrhizal Fungi Create More Drought-Resistant Grapevines
As climate change continues to alter viticulture, some farmers are harnessing the power of an ancient fungus to strengthen their vines
5 Standout Bottles from ProWein 2023
Our associate editor reports on five bottles—four wines and one sake—that illustrate many of the broader trends shaping the global beverage industry today
The Anti-Greenwashing Guide to Nonprofit Drinks Partnerships
With environmental integrity ranking high among consumer priorities, how can drinks brands work with nonprofits to make a meaningful impact?
Winemakers Are Reimagining Grape Waste as a Resource
Discarded grape pomace, free-run press juice, and dropped fruit can all become key ingredients in other revenue-driving products, from cosmetics to vermouth
Bourbon, Biodiversity, and the Quest to Save America’s Oak Forests
Without the success of the White Oak Initiative—a coalition of distilleries, cooperages, and foresters—there will be too few trees for their current widespread use
New ESG Regulations Will Impact Every Winery—Here’s What to Know
Environmental, social, and governance metrics will soon be the global standard to which the wine industry will need to comply
The Retail Forecast for Wine and Spirits Gift Packaging
Supply chain disruptions and calls for more sustainable options have put this seasonal staple in the spotlight—yet demand for value-added packaging remains high
Why So Many Winemakers Are Embracing Agroforestry
Growers are using trees, hedgerows, and habitats to mitigate climate change, helping not just the environment, but also the health of their vines
The Elusive Search for the Perfect Eco-Friendly Wine Closure
The proliferation of closure options in recent years has complicated the choice for winemakers—especially when it comes to sustainability
The Shrinking Footprint of Glass Wine Bottles
How the wine world and its suppliers are dealing with the problematic carbon emissions of its favored packaging
Looking for Low-Carbon Wine Shipping? Try Sail Freight
Grain de Sail, the first commercial exporter of wine by sail freight, shows that sail ship transport isn’t always a green gimmick, but can offer a viable—and scalable—alternative to conventional cargo
Climate-Friendly Spirits Production Is Possible. These Distilleries Are Demonstrating How
The spirits industry has long struggled to lower its carbon footprint—but that’s changing as producers adopt new approaches to curb emissions
How Southern French Winemakers Are Adapting Their Rosés to Climate Change
The 2021 vintage underscored the many challenges that southern French producers are facing amidst climatic extremes and rising temperatures. How will it impact their rosés?
How Bars Can Craft More Appealing—Yet Profitable—Cocktail Presentations
Perfect presentation is more than great garnishes, and with the right tools it can be sustainable and cost-effective, too
How Producers Are Making Climate-Friendly Winemaking a Reality
From employing regenerative farming to going carbon-neutral—or even carbon-negative—producers large and small are pushing themselves to innovate for the future of the planet
Do Spirits Need to Be Sustainable to Sell?
Younger generations increasingly look to brands’ sustainability credentials when purchasing. What does this mean for both large and small spirits companies going forward?
Distilleries Are Innovating to Save Water in Drought-Stricken Areas
From repurposing wastewater for fisheries to implementing closed-loop recycling systems, water-guzzling U.S. distilleries are getting creative to conserve water
