VSPT becomes a gold member of IWCA

South America’s VSPT Wine Group, with some of the best-known wineries from Chile and Argentina among its ranks, has been promoted to gold status under the International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA).

Thanks to its rigorous efforts in minimising its carbon footprint, VSPT has achieved Gold status with the IWCA, an organisation that brings wineries together from around the world that have adopted a science-based approach to reducing their carbon emissions.

The group says it is “honoured” to achieve the milestone, which was awarded for the fact that VSPT can now power at least 20% of its winemaking operations using onsite renewable energy, as well as the wine group’s sustained reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions.

“We are honoured by this recognition of our efforts,” said Carolina Gotuzzo, VSPT corporate affairs and sustainability director. ” We are a large group with complex processes and operations in the most renowned valleys in Chile and Argentina. Being an IWCA Gold Member certainly encourages us to continue progress on this great challenge, which involves commitment from all those who are part of VSPT and the value chain”.

Since it became a Silver-level member of the organisation in 2020, VSPT has committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and has adapted its production methods towards renewable energy and ecodesign throughout its extensive portfolio, which includes brands such as Vina Leyda, Graffigna and Gato Negra. Agricultural and waste management is also prioritised at all production sites.

Previously, VSPT succeeded in reducing its CO2 emissions by 6.8% between 2019 and 2021.

“The recognition lends a sense of urgency to our continued efforts to improve and innovate regarding our decarbonisation strategy by setting increasingly ambitious, challenging goals from the vineyard to the bottle,” said Gotuzzo.

Earlier this month, the drinks business reported that VSPT was launching a new UK arm of its group with the aim of growing its premium portfolio in this key market.

“We are sure that this new strategy and route-to-market will help us to improve agility in terms of logistics and deliver best-in-class service,” said Cristian Le Dantec, who will head up the UK team.

“Our ambition is to become the preferred partner for retailers while we continue working with our current importers and distributors.”