‘Choosing sustainably is more than buying locally,’ says wine importer and wine enthusiast Henrico van Lammeren, president of the Royal Association of Dutch Wine Traders (KVNW).
Text: Henrico van Lammeren
‘With sustainable wine drinking, we often think: the closer the better. European wines then automatically seem to be the most environmentally friendly choice. But that is too simple an assumption. Wines from South Africa, Australia or South America, for example, can actually be surprisingly sustainable. It's not just about transport kilometres, but about the whole production process.
Sustainable
Many wineries in these regions have been investing in organic farming, regenerative agriculture, water conservation and social sustainability, such as fair working conditions and community development, for years. In some ways, they are even ahead of European producers. What about transport? Wine from faraway countries is usually transported by ship. This is much more efficient and carbon efficient than road freight. Thus, a bottle from Chile, Australia or South Africa can have a smaller carbon footprint than one coming by truck from southern Europe.
Knowledge about this is growing in the Netherlands. The KVNW is actively researching sustainability throughout the wine chain, from production to consumer. Sometimes the most responsible bottle of wine is surprisingly far from home.’
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