Release date: 1 June 2023
Twenty-one organisations from around the world that are involved in the science of wine-making have joined forces to compete successfully for support from the EU. Funding from the EU Horizon Europe Programme will be invested in cutting-edge research, advanced doctoral training and public communication around novel approaches to wine-making. The ‘Eco2Wine’ project will kick off at the end of 2023, with joint funding of about €2.4 million over four years. Ten PhD graduates will be trained via this project.
The science objective of the Eco2Wine project is to harness the microbial interactions that occur during wine-making as tools for innovation. In doing so, the aim is to produce natural, eco-friendly wines, while improving vineyard management and giving consumers more wine choices. In addition to the focus on cutting-edge science, the project will employ creative approaches to public communication and engagement, including digital storytelling, virtual displays and science-art linkages, as well as efforts to involve relevant public groups in the co-creation of new ideas and knowledge. The team will also ensure ongoing sharing of progress and outcomes via mainstream and social media.
Coordinated by the University of Milan, the Eco2Wine consortium partner institutes are located in wine-growing countries, including Italy, Germany, France, Georgia, Spain, Slovenia and South Africa. The participating universities are the University of Milan; the Université de Bourgogne; Hochschule Geisenheim University; the Georgian Technical University; the University of Perugia; the University of Ljubljana; the University of Cádiz and Stellenbosch University, as well as the Spanish National Research Council.
In each country, several vineyards and wine industry partners are also involved. These include: the National Wine Agency of Georgia; Miguel Torres SA (Spain); Fundacion Rioja Salud (Spain); Winetech (South Africa); Parsec (Italy); Vivai Cooperativi Rauscedo (Italy); SICAREX Beaujolais Société (France); Azienda Agricola Ferghettina (Italy); Wine Company Shumi Ltd (Georgia), Petrič Winery (Slovenia); and Reyneke Winery (South Africa).
Enquiries: Professor Ileana Vigentini; Email: ileana.vigentini@unimi.it
