Episode summary
Environmentally Sustainable Wines | Bloomberg Businessweek
Bloomberg Businessweek Daily
· · 13 min · Hosts: Carol Massar, Tim Stenovec · Guests: Don Opici, Chris Wirth
Summary
Sustainability in wine is framed as more than an organic label. The guest says growers are adapting to climate stress by cutting emissions, avoiding synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, planting cover crops, and using vineyard practices that regenerate soil while preserving flavor and consistency. He argues that sustainability has to extend beyond the vineyard to packaging, glass, shippers, and the way the story is communicated to consumers.
The discussion highlights how certification matters because sustainability claims need verification, not just marketing. The guest says Opici Wines & Spirits looks for labels and independent certifiers that show what producers are actually doing. He points to Italy’s 3E standard, which stands for environmental, ethical, and economical, and Spain’s Wines for Climate Protection certification, which emphasizes water management and reduced energy use.
The wines tasted on air are used as examples of value and style. The guest describes a $18 Luca Procco from a large cooperative, an Eloto blanco from Rioja made in stainless steel for freshness, and a 2020 Carpineto Chianti Classico Riserva from estate-grown Sangiovese. He also says the Finger Lakes remain a strong cool-climate region, especially for Riesling, despite frost risk and a warming climate.
Key takeaways
- The guest says sustainability in wine now means lower emissions, cover crops, and reduced synthetic inputs, not just organic farming.
- He argues that credible sustainability programs need third-party certification to avoid greenwashing.
- Italy’s 3E label and Spain’s Wines for Climate Protection program are presented as examples of broader environmental, ethical, and economic standards.
- The guest says the Luca Procco sells around $16 to $18 because importing and branding are streamlined through a large cooperative.
- He says the Finger Lakes is a strong cool-climate region for Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay, even as climate patterns shift.
Notable quotes
“The biggest thing is they don't want to contribute to make it worse. So, they're cutting down on their own emissions”
“sustainability is more of like an overall holistic um style to do it. you can maintain that flavor and maintain your business without sacrificing like the flavor in the in the sales and things like that”
“it need it needs some teeth cuz I think a lot of it comes off as like greenwashing or it's just kind of like surface stuff”
“on the back of the bottle you'll see um that 3E equal to on there. So that's environment, environmental, ethical and economical”
“Wineries for climate protection is what Spain does. So that's a joint public private venture between the Spanish government and the Federation of Spanish wine makers”
How the episode opens
Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio, news. — You're listening to Bloomberg Business Week with Carol Masser and Tim Stenc on Bloomberg Radio. — Carol, you can always count on Bloomberg Pursuits for some good wine related content. — Listen, their reporting is incredible and you know, they go a lot of different places, but certainly when it comes to alcoholic beverages,
It's been a week. Ellen McCoy writes for Bloomer Pursuits about how white wine uh should be looked at when it comes to value investing. She writes that quote, "Sadly, most people, even those who love white wines, buy into the narrative that collecting and investing are mainly about reds because their powerful tannins allow them to last.
This received wisdom is woefully outdated. She writes, "Top whites can easily age 10 or as many as 20 years or more, almost as long as reds. She says the acidity plays the role that tannin plays in preserving reds.
Well, our next guest is nodding as he's listening to this. Uh we're talking about wine because it is Friday or Friday. Uh we're joined by Christopher Worth. He is director of sustainability at OP Wines and Spirits. He joins us here in our Bloomberg Interactive Broker studio. Happy Friday. Welcome. Welcome. Nice to have you here.
Thank you for having me.
Tell us tell us about um Opichi Wines. What do we need to So, Aichi Wines, family-owned. Uh, the import side of the business has been around since 1913.
So, we do have a little bit of pedigree and some history behind us. Um, we focus on family-owned estate wines from around the world, heavy on Italy just because of the family's heritage, but then we've also branched out into some of our own proprietary BL brands that um that we source from family growers, but we'll put our own label on them.
From the episode’s captions: roughly the first two minutes, lightly cleaned. Keep watching on YouTube →
Topics
- sustainable wines
- winery sustainability
- environmentally friendly wine production
- wine industry
- climate and environmental initiatives
Companies and tickers mentioned
- Opici Wines & Spirits
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Summary, takeaways and quote selection by Octagon. Quotes are short excerpts; the full conversation is in the episode.
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