Anthony Gismondi: ‘Regenerative viticulture’ billed as the next structural shift in wine

Sustainable farming focuses on minimizing harm and maintaining resources over time; regenerative farming goes further, aiming to restore soil health and ecosystem function so the land improves as you grow.

The process encompasses a wide range of tools and objectives, with no constraints or rules that could hinder any grower from adopting the system. It is based on soil-first farming practices, such as cover cropping, to promote biodiversity and fix valuable nitrogen in the soil. No-tillage or low-tillage is encouraged to protect soil structure, while composting and mulching add much-needed organic matter. Livestock integration adds nutrients and provides some pest control, while agroforestry, which reintroduces trees around vineyards, helps shift the landscape from monoculture to a more complex ecosystem.

Altogether, regenerative farming helps create a road map for positive environmental impact — producing healthier soils, more resilient vines, and measurable ecosystem improvements. It is particularly important now, given the ongoing climate challenges facing growers. Heat spikes, drought, erratic rainfall, and erosion are all at play in most traditional regions, and some producers are now at severe risk of disruption without adapting their farming practices.