Dhe around 200 member companies of the Association of Prädikat Wineries (VDP) want to use lighter glass bottles than before for their inexpensive entry-level segment – the so-called estate wines. These wines represent around 60 percent of the wine production in the VDP. Filling them in bottles weighing a maximum of 430 grams can bring about a “remarkable reduction” in carbon dioxide emissions, according to the VDP. In addition, this bottle can also be used for bottling higher quality wines. The VDP is also working on a lighter version for its top wines such as the Große Gewächse. According to calculations, the disposable glass bottle accounts for almost 50 percent of a winery’s carbon dioxide emissions.
The decision to use lighter bottles follows last year’s decision that all VDP member companies should undergo sustainable certification by 2025. According to the VDP, however, many companies have already made their way towards more sustainability. A fifth of the entire German organic wine-growing area is cultivated by around 50 VDP companies, some of which even work according to the even stricter biodynamic guidelines, it is said. Around 30 percent of the VDP vineyards are already sustainably certified.
“Full sustainability cannot be implemented overnight. Rather, it is a process,” say the two winegrowers Franz Wehrheim and Johannes Hasselbach, who lead the sustainability working group in the VDP. It is all the more important for the association to turn the screws continuously and in good time. With Fabian Kerbeck, the association has also brought a consultant for sustainability on board.
The members also confirmed Steffen Christmann from the Palatinate for a further three years in his office as VDP President. It is already the fifth term in office for the winemaker from Gimmeldingen. The Executive Committee was reduced from six to four people because the long-standing Vice Presidents Joachim Heger and Reinhard Löwenstein had decided not to stand for re-election after 16 and 18 years respectively on the Executive Board.