Vinexpo Symposium addresses impact of climate change on wine industry

Vinexpo Bordeaux will debut its first ever symposium on May 14 – which will focus on how climate change will impact supply chains.

The event will include three conferences examining the critical impacts of climate change on the wine and spirits industry, and calls on professionals to “work together to find solutions to this challenge we all share”.

Co-hosted by the Regional Council of New Aquitaine, CNN correspondent Jim Bittermann will moderate the series, which brings together some of the world’s foremost scientists, economists, academics and wine industry leaders. Expert round tables and debates will follow each session.

The agenda includes discussion of the impact of climate change on global vineyards, vineyard management and winemaking, and the wine economy.

Among the experts participating from around the world are three U.S. leaders in the climate movement. Katie Jackson, vice president of sustainability for Jackson Family Wines, will participate on site while former California Governor Jerry Brown and climatologist Gregory V. Jones will provide recorded remarks.

Jones is a professor of environmental studies at Oregon’s Linfield College and director of the Evenstad Center for Wine Education and Evenstad chair in Wine Studies.

Recently, Vinexpo appointed Rodolphe Lameyse as its new CEO, almost a year after the departure of Guillaume Deglise last April.

Lameyse, who will take up his role on 16 April, is well versed in organising international trade events.

Before joining Vinexpo he was based in Singapore as the manager of Asia’s largest show dedicated to the food, beverage and hotel industry – Food & Hotel Asia.

In addition, 2019’s recipient of The Lifetime Achievement Award from the drinks business and the Institute of Masters of Wine will be announced on Monday 13 May at Vinexpo Bordeaux.