In the first episode of 2026, Janina is joined by Jane Masters MW and Andrew Neather, co-authors of Rooted in Change: The Stories Behind Sustainable Wine. Together, they explore what sustainability truly means in today’s wine world — looking beyond buzzwords to examine climate change, vineyard practices, winery operations, packaging, and the often-overlooked human side of wine production.
An insightful, honest and thought-provoking conversation about the future of wine and the choices shaping it.

You can buy the book at Académie du Vin Library for £20 - but use the code EATSLEEP15 for 15% off any of the books on the site.

This episode is sponsored by Zeno: Alcohol Liberated Wines (Non Alcoholic Producer of the Year 2025 with the International London Wine Competition) The wine mentioned is the Zeno Alcohol-Liberated Sparkling £12.50 from Waitrose and Waitrose Cellar.

Follow Zeno on Instagram @drinkzeno.

Shownotes

02:15 Fun fact of the episode: why some grapes do better in heat that others

06:25 Andrew Neathers introduces himself discussing his background as a wine critic and an environmentalist

08:44 Jane Masters’ background and her long-standing focus on sustainability in the wine industry.

13:00 Synthetic fertilisers and agrochemicals - why they became widespread and their long-term impact on vineyards and ecosystems.

20:50 Organic farming and its limitations - the use of copper and sulphur in humid climates.

26:41 Predator insects in vineyards - replacing chemical treatments with natural solutions.

27:44 The use of drones in viticulture and precision farming.

28:26 Are new technologies accessible to small and medium-sized producers?

29:44 Inside the winery: water, electricity and energy use as major sustainability challenges.

34:46 Sustainability across the wider drinks industry - what meaningful progress really looks like.

36:59 The environmental cost of traditional glass wine bottles.

43:26 Bottle colour, recyclability and consumer perception.

45:30 The human side of sustainability - vineyard and winery workers.

50:59 What Jane Masters and Andrew Neather hope readers will take away from Rooted in Change.

52:51 Use code EATSLEEP15 for 15% of the book Rooted in Change: The Stories Behind Sustainable Wine.

📩 Questions or feedback? janina@eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk
📸 Instagram: @eatsleep_winerepeat
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🌐 Website: www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk
Cheers to you! 🥂

THE EAT SLEEP WINE REPEAT PODCAST
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RECOGNITION:
– Finalist, 67 Pall Mall Award for Best Global Wine Communicator in Audio (2025)
– Shortlisted, IWSC Emerging Talent in Wine Communication (2025)
– Ranked #18 in 2024 and #22 in 2025 on Drinks Retailing’s Most Influential People in Drinks list