Project Startup: “Sustainably Produced Austrian Wine”

To answer to such questions - and based on previous climate projects – the Austrian Wine Growers’ Association initiated the development of a certification system for sustainably produced wine – a system that winemakers can use for themselves. ”The sustainability project is not a marketing gag,” says Johannes Schmuckenschlager, president of the Austrian Winegrowers’ Association. “It is important to put this topic positively in the heads of the consumers now, before it is approached from outside the sector.” Adds Josef Glatt, managing director of the Austrian Winegrowers’ Association: “Other countries have been very active with sustainability for years already. Austria is predestined to work actively on sustainability, especially because of its work with soil and plant protection.”

Together with experts and in several stages, quality objectives for a range of processes (production of grapes, production of wine, vineyards, social and economic) were defined and measures were developed for sustainable implementation. The results of the development, over several years, were presented for the first time at the National Viticulture Day in Austria on June 24th.

In the online program, which is available to everyone, the vintners receive upon entering their key operating figures an analysis in the form of a diagram. See illustration at the left. The entries in the operating areas (grape production, wine production, vineyards) are assessed automatically according to a specific key. This means that practices which make only a small contribution to sustainability get a lower value, whereas, for example, a change from heavy to lightweight glass for the bottles means a major step. When all items are filled in, the result comes in the form of a diagram. The black dot marks the current status in this category. The further out the dot lies, the more sustainable is the particular area. The red area shows distinct potential for improvement, while the green area reflects above-average sustainability. The system does not present concrete figures, but rather a relative reference. Ultimately, winemakers can see where they stand: how far they are from an optimally managed winery and what improvements can be made through various practices. For the evaluation of these practices in terms of their sustainability, the following criteria are used:

• climate neutrality
• use of water
• use of energy
• use of equipment
• soil fertility
• biodiversity
• high quality standards

The first certifications will be awarded in winter 2014/2015.

“Bio is positive, but alone, it's too little,” comments Willi Klinger, managing director of the Austrian Wine Marketing Board. “The new sustainability project fits perfectly with Austria's positioning as an original holiday land with pure nature. The argument for sustainability requires a high degree of participation in the project over a long period of time.”

• Austrian Winegrowers Association: Josef Glatt (Project sponsor)
• BOKU University of Natural Resource and Life Sciences, Institute of Marketing and Innovation: Siegfried Pöchtrager; Stefan Großauer
• HBLA and BA for Wine and pomiculture: Karl Vogl; Franz G. Rosner (as of Fall  2011)
• SERI Sustainable Europe Research Institute: Eva Burger (until Spring 2012)

More information is available at the Austrian Winegrowers’ Association through Josef Glatt, managing director, by email at j.glatt@lk-oe.at or via telephone: +43 (1) 53441.