Sogrape Strengthens Climate Action To Protect The Future Of Wine
Sogrape has reduced its total greenhouse gas emissions in Portugal by 25.2% compared with 2021, while strengthening measures to adapt to climate change and protect ecosystems. On International Day of Climate Action, observed on 24 October, and ahead of the COP31 Climate Change Conference and COP17 Biodiversity Conference, the company is highlighting an approach that combines mitigation and adaptation to protect the future of wine.
In a sector particularly exposed to the effects of climate change, with impacts on vineyards, water availability, soil health and grape quality, anticipating risks and strengthening the resilience of wine regions are priorities for Sogrape. This approach is part of Seed the Future, the company’s sustainability programme, which combines emissions reduction with more efficient use of resources and greater resilience across vineyards and wine regions.
In Portugal, emissions reductions have been driven by initiatives focused on energy efficiency, renewable energy generation and lower-emission mobility. These have been complemented by measures across the value chain, particularly targeting Scope 3 emissions, which account for more than 94% of total emissions, including reducing bottle weight and incorporating recycled materials.
“Wine comes from the land, so caring for nature means caring for who we are and what we want to preserve for the future. At Sogrape, we are working to build more resilient wine regions, reduce our impact and prepare our vineyards and territories for an increasingly challenging climate. This is the responsibility we are taking on today, with the legacy we want to leave to future generations in mind,” says Mafalda Guedes, Sogrape’s Head of Corporate Communications and Sustainability and a fourth-generation member of the founding family.
Adaptation starts with understanding the specific conditions of each region. In Portugal, Sogrape has 31 weather stations and collects vegetation data from more than four million vines every year, supporting viticultural decisions that are better adapted to local conditions. Between 2022 and 2025, specific water use decreased by 40.5%, from 21.9 to 13 litres per 0.75-litre bottle of wine. At the same time, adaptation also means protecting biodiversity and the natural functions of viticultural landscapes. Around 36 hectares have been restored in Portugal, with a further 92 hectares currently undergoing restoration.
With a presence across different wine-growing regions, Sogrape monitors changing climate conditions at both regional and individual estate level, recognising that impacts and the responses required vary from one territory to another. This monitoring makes it possible to anticipate change and adapt viticultural practices to local conditions, helping to protect grape quality, vineyard resilience and the distinctive character of each region.
Sogrape is also a Silver member of the International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA), contributing to the organisation’s collective, science-based efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the wine industry. Through an approach that combines emissions reduction, vineyard adaptation and the protection of nature and biodiversity, Sogrape continues to invest in the resilience of wine regions, helping to ensure that future generations can continue to produce great wines.
