Saving Every Drop in Wine

A new global report reframes how the wine industry understands water

The report “Saving Every Drop in Wine” by the Porto Protocol Foundation brings together global expertise and real-world practices to shift the conversation from water use to water systems. It aims to challenge and redirect the wine industry’s understanding of water and its engagement.

Vienna, 4 May 2026

Download of the presse release
At a glance: Saving Every Drop in Wine
The entire report: Saving Every Drop in Wine

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At the end of April, the Porto Protocol Foundation published its new report “Saving Every Drop in Wine”: a one-of-a-kind 200+ pages document consolidating global insights and solutions from the Porto Protocol community with a clear purpose: to challenge and guide the wine industry's understanding of and engagement with water.

Across wine regions worldwide, water is becoming increasingly unpredictable. Droughts, erratic rainfall, and extreme weather events are disrupting long-standing patterns—making water availability less reliable and more difficult to manage. For an industry deeply tied to place and seasonality, this growing uncertainty is no longer a future risk, but a present reality.

“Saving Every Drop in Wine” does not prescribe a single solution. Instead, it reflects the diversity of realities across wine regions while pointing toward a shared direction: working with natural systems, not relying on them as external inputs. The report examines water through multiple, interconnected lenses, from broader ecological cycles to traditional and Indigenous practices, water footprint methodologies, and the role of soil and regenerative hydrology in how water is captured, stored, and moves through living systems across both vineyards and wineries. The report is available free of charge at the following link: portoprotocol.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/saving-every-drop-2026-compressed.pdf

Contributions from recognized experts. The report, developed with the involvement of leading experts such as Cornelis van Leeuwen, Hervé Quénol, Linda Johnson-Bell, Lucrezia Lamastra, Mimi Casteel and Nicolas Quillé, reflects a wide range of perspectives across different disciplines and regions. The project is led by the Brazilian winemaker Jihany Brecci: “The wine industry stands at a crossroads when it comes to water. This report draws from both scientific insight and the lived experience of producers to help guide more informed, long-term decisions.”

“Water is still not at the forefront of how our industry defines its impact — and it should be,” says Adrian Bridge, leader of The Porto Protocol Foundation. “This report is about changing the lens. It’s about understanding water as part of a wider living system — and recognizing our responsibility to work with it, not against it.”

ABOUT THE PORTO PROTOCOL FOUNDATION. The Porto Protocol is a global impact network empowering the wine industry to tackle climate change and drive sustainability. Founded by Taylor’s Port, Porto Protocol operates on the belief that by uniting and sharing practical solutions, we can create a ripple effect that drives systemic change, reaching beyond the wine industry.

As an open and dynamic platform, Porto Protocol brings together over 250 members across 5 continents and 20 countries, covering the entire wine value chain. Through a collaborative focus on critical impact areas—water management, sustainable packaging, ecosystem restoration, and climate strategy—Porto Protocol fuels innovation, fosters action, and builds a community of changemakers committed to creating a positive impact on the planet.

For more information and to register for the workshops, visit portoprotocol.com.

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THE PORTO PROTOCOL FOUNDATION
Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
Contact: Marta Mendonça
Tel. +351 932 160 185, Email: marta.mendonca@portoprotocol.com
portoprotocol.com

Free Pdf „Saving Every Drop in Wine“: portoprotocol.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/saving-every-drop-2026-compressed.pdf

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Further inquiries
Sylvia Petz | Regional ambassador ot The Porto Protocol Foundation
Agency for organised enjoyment
Gumpendorfer Strasse 16/8, 1060 Vienna, sylvia-petz.at
Email: sp@sylvia-petz.at, Tel. +43 699 1100 8040

Marta Mendonça | Porto Protocol
Email: marta.mendonca@portoprotocol.com, Tel. +351 932 160 185