About this episode
In the first episode of 2026, Janina is joined by Jane Masters MW and Andrew Neather, co-authors of Rooted in Change: The Stories Behind Sustainable Wine. Together, they explore what sustainability truly means in today’s wine world — looking beyond buzzwords to examine climate change, vineyard practices, winery operations, packaging, and the often-overlooked human side of wine production.
An insightful, honest and thought-provoking conversation about the future of wine and the choices shaping it.
You can buy the book at Académie du Vin Library for £20 - but use the code EATSLEEP15 for 15% off any of the books on the site.
This episode is sponsored by Zeno: Alcohol Liberated Wines (Non Alcoholic Producer of the Year 2025 with the International London Wine Competition) The wine mentioned is the Zeno Alcohol-Liberated Sparkling £12.50 from Waitrose and Waitrose Cellar.
Follow Zeno on Instagram @drinkzeno.
Shownotes
02:15 Fun fact of the episode: why some grapes do better in heat that others
06:25 Andrew Neathers introduces himself discussing his background as a wine critic and an environmentalist
08:44 Jane Masters’ background and her long-standing focus on sustainability in the wine industry.
13:00 Synthetic fertilisers and agrochemicals - why they became widespread and their long-term impact on vineyards and ecosystems.
20:50 Organic farming and its limitations - the use of copper and sulphur in humid climates.
26:41 Predator insects in vineyards - replacing chemical treatments with natural solutions.
27:44 The use of drones in viticulture and precision farming.
28:26 Are new technologies accessible to small and medium-sized producers?
29:44 Inside the winery: water, electricity and energy use as major sustainability challenges.
34:46 Sustainability across the wider drinks industry - what meaningful progress really looks like.
36:59 The environmental cost of traditional glass wine bottles.
43:26 Bottle colour, recyclability and consumer perception.
45:30 The human side of sustainability - vineyard
