Apocalyptic environmental messages are delivered almost daily by the media & with the stark findings of the recently published Stern Report on Climate Change, does it really matter if one consumes the odd bottle of wine imported from Tasmania or Andalucia? It hardly seems a major environmental crime. The point is though, that production, transportation & consumption do have a far-reaching environmental impact.If this comes under the spotlight in the same way as food, the wine & drinks trade will need to respond to some tough questions. Also, the industry may have to bear significant extra financial costs as carbon emission quotas, energy consumption, packaging & waste are scrutinised ever more closely. With food miles coming under close scrutiny, this article explains why a wine shipment from Australia does not necessarily leave a bigger carbon footprint than a wine from just across the Channel.
