From 22 to 25 July, project partners from Hungary, France, Germany and Austria from the VineAdapt Life project met in southern Styria on the grounds of the Training Centre for Viticulture and Fruit Growing in Silberberg.
After arriving on Monday, the Styrian State Winery Silberberg, the Raumberg-Gumpenstein Federal Institute of Higher Education and Research and BioErnte Steiermark were presented on Tuesday morning. This was followed by a tour of a young plantation that had been planted with species-rich greenery as part of the project and an existing plantation with very good greening success. The participants were impressed by the cultivation of the steep slopes and the traditional craft of hand-picking. In the afternoon, the internal project meeting was held in hybrid form. The first day was rounded off appropriately with a tour of a wine cellar and tasting in Silberberg, followed by a visit to a wine tavern.

On 24 July, the practical day for the Life VineAdapt project ‘Biodiversity and Greening Management in Viticulture’ was held in Silberberg. In addition to the group of project partners, around 40 winegrowers from all over Austria, consultants from various areas related to viticulture and other interested visitors took part. Conference participants from Slovenia and South Tyrol were also welcomed. 
In the morning, specialist presentations provided information on the establishment and preservation of biodiversity through species-rich permanent greening in viticulture, the connection between microbial diversity in the soil and resilient viticulture and the promotion of beneficial insects through species-rich wild plant greening. In the afternoon, the extensive machine demonstration on site at the Glaser vineyard provided an opportunity for professional dialogue. The machines presented were used to develop an optimal maintenance concept for species-rich vegetation in the central reservation in Silberberg. The plan is to maintain these in the long term through management and to create future young plants with species-rich flower strips.

On Thursday, an excursion was organised for the project partners to visit an oil mill and two organic wineries on the South Styrian Wine Route. The international week of events organised as part of the Life VineAdapt.t project ended with a meal together in a wine tavern. 

Editor Tino Wiemeier from MDR television and his team had signed up to present the LIFE VineAdapt project in a series on the topic of ‘Biodiversity’. At Pfortenser Köppelberg, Prof. Dr Anita Kirmer from Anhalt University of Applied Sciences explained to the television team that the wild plants sown in the vineyard alleys, such as meadow widow's-wort, St John's wort and chicory, have significantly increased biodiversity in the vineyard. The MDR team was able to observe and film wild bees, butterflies and hoverflies live. Jörg Erdmann, Managing Director of the Kloster Pforta State Winery, was delighted with the colourful plants, which also protect the soil from erosion and dehydration. 

During another film sequence in the wine cellar, project coordinator Isabel Reuter from Landgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt mbH drew attention to the ‘Biodiverse Viticulture’ label. All winegrowers who are involved in the LIFE VineAdapt project and have sown wild plant mixtures in their vineyards may use the label on bottle labels or as bottle tags. Jörg Erdmann from Landesweingut Kloster Pforta will be happy to provide the relevant material (contact: erdmann@kloster-pforta.de).

The report on the LIFE VineAdapt project is expected to be broadcast on Tuesday, 23 July 2024, 7 p.m. on MDR television in the programme ‘Sachsen-Anhalt heute’.

To the photos:

Picture above: Jörg Erdmann, Tino Wiemeier and Prof Dr Anita Kirmer (from left) at Pfortenser Köppelberg © Landgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt mbH

Picture below: Prof Dr Anita Kirmer being interviewed in a flowering vineyard lane © Landgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt mbH

The Hungarian partners of the international LIFE VineAdapt project welcomed a prominent guest. Minister President Dr Reiner Haseloff had the research conducted by the Institute of Organic Agriculture ÖMKI explained to him. The scientists were able to prove that wild bees, for example, are significantly more likely to be found in vineyards with flower strips. At the meeting in Budapest, Isabel Reuter, project coordinator at Landgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt, also presented further project results. The Minister President also had a dialogue with a local winegrower who is involved in the project.

Our photo:
Seed mixtures for flower strips in vineyards were shown to Minister President Dr Reiner Haseloff in Budapest (from left to right: Robert Zeßner, German Embassy in Hungary; Isabel Reuter, Landgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt mbH; Minister President Dr Reiner Haseloff; Dr Tamás Miglécz, Dr László Mezőfi, both ÖMKI; State Secretary Dr Jürgen Ude; Dr Dóra Drexler, Head of ÖMKI; Zoltán Szoboszlay, winegrower)

The Central German wine industry met in Naumburg at the beginning of February 2024. Around 100 winegrowers and representatives from associations and politics, such as Sven Schulze, Minister of Economics, Tourism, Agriculture and Forestry of Saxony-Anhalt, learnt about current developments in viticulture in the region. Oliver Brand from Landesweingut Kloster Pforta presented the LIFE VineAdapt project - sustainable viticulture to adapt to climate change - at an information stand. Among other things, the winegrowers were interested in the regional seed mixtures that are being sown in the alleys of the experimental vineyards as part of the project. Oliver Brand therefore also handed out small sowing samples as a test, which were gladly taken away.

Future TecDay is a specialist conference for new technologies in viticulture. Around 60 students and practitioners attended the diverse presentations at the State Teaching and Research Centre for Viticulture and Fruit Growing in Weinsberg in January 2024. Jens Eckner from Landesweingut Kloster Pforta and Janik Schäfer from Anhalt University of Applied Sciences were also there. They presented the LIFE VineAdapt project - sustainable viticulture to adapt to climate change. Interesting discussions also took place on the other presentation topics, such as experiences from the field of agricultural PV and PS robots and the use of drones in viticulture.

We wish everyone a good start to the new year 2024! A new calendar from the LifeVineAdapt project is available. Impressive photos show the diversity of flora and fauna in the project vineyards. 

Click here for the 2024 calendar.

The French project partners from the University of Avignon and the Marrenon wine cooperative organized a varied excursion for the guests from Hungary and Germany. In addition to visiting selected greening and irrigation trial areas, the program also included a visit to the winery in Bonnieux and the Marrenon wine cooperative in La Tour-d'Aigues. Besides, winemaker Romain Doll provided insights into his work and farm philosophy, which focuses on soil conservation.

Also part of the excursion was a course with the financial expert Barbora Patockova of the company Ernst & Young, commissioned by the EU, as well as a discussion on the current project status. In the last months, among other things, all the information boards and signs were installed, the complete database of demonstration sites was put online, the label "Biodiverse Winegrowing" was presented and the socio-economic surveys were completed. In addition, the partners presented the project at several international conferences, amongst others in Australia and Greece.

Many visitors found their way to the Landesweingut Kloster Pforta for the open wine cellar days on the first weekend in August 2023. Two representatives of the LIFE VineAdapt project were also on site. Lena Schober and Isabel Reuter from the Landgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt again conducted surveys on the project. Even the wine princesses Paula Löber (Bad Kösen) and Lea-Michelle Poppendicker (Großjena) answered the questions and thus contributed to the evaluation and further development of the project. The survey runs until 27.08.2023! You can participate here: 

If you live in the Saale-Unstrut region (i.e. in the Burgenlandkreis, Saalekreis, in Bad Sulza or in Dornburg-Camburg), follow this link: https://arcg.is/0jyavO 

If you are a guest of the Saale-Unstrut region (i.e. do not live in the Burgenlandkreis, Saalekreis, in Bad Sulza or in Dornburg-Camburg), follow this link: https://arcg.is/10ejKn1

The new label "Biodiverse Viticulture" of the LIFE VineAdapt project may be used by winegrowers who sow certified and regionally adapted wild plant mixtures in the vineyard alleys. For all those who enjoy wine, it offers guidance when choosing a wine and creates transparency. Because by buying wines that carry the label, they support climate- and biodiversity-friendly viticulture.

At the presentation of the new label on the Eulauer Heideberg, Naumburg's mayor Armin Müller was delighted that flowering strips now also increase biodiversity in the vineyards. Project coordinator from the Landgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt Isabel Reuter added: "The greening of vineyard alleys with wild plant mixtures has several advantages. It protects the soil from erosion, e.g. during heavy rainfall, and from drying out. In addition, wild plants such as corn poppy, chicory and agrimony attract insects that attack pests in the vineyard." Jens Eckner from the Landesweingut Kloster Pforta pointed out that the wild plant mixture is specially adapted to the Saale-Unstrut region. The robust plants do not take any water off the wine. Janik Schäfer from the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, which is also involved in the project, confirmed that there are significantly more insects in vineyards that have been planted with vegetation in this way. 

In the Saale-Unstrut region, around 20 winegrowers are involved in the project, in addition to the Kloster Pforta state winery. They offer their vineyards for sowing and accompany the measures. With the new free label, they can now point out their commitment. Bottle tags are available, but also a digital version of the logo, which can be printed on labels and published on the internet. In addition, a leaflet is available to raise awareness of the project among other winegrowers and to inform wine lovers about the new label. Bottle tags and leaflets are also available in the languages of the other project partners, who use them to award the participating wineries in their respective countries.

If winegrowers are interested, they can contact Jens Eckner from the Landesweingut Kloster Pforta (phone: 034463 30021, e-mail: eckner(at)kloster-pforta.de).

Click here for the BLK Regional TV report on the occasion of the presentation of the new label: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50Z-oJXteXk

The international LIFE VineAdapt project is investigating how viticulture can adapt to climate change. Frequent droughts in summer, short, heavy rainfalls and the immigration of new pests require solutions. The LIFE VineAdapt project aims to help make viticulture fit for climate change. The links take you to a short survey on the project. The survey is in German.

If you live in the Saale-Unstrut region (i.e. in the Burgenlandkreis, Saalekreis, in Bad Sulza or in Dornburg-Camburg), follow this link: https://arcg.is/0jyavO

If you are a guest of the Saale-Unstrut region (i.e. do not live in the Burgenlandkreis, Saalekreis, in Bad Sulza or in Dornburg-Camburg), follow this link: https://arcg.is/10ejKn1

Thank you for supporting the evaluation and further development of the international research project of the Landgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt mbH and seven other project partners with your answers!

For many, it is simply part of Whitsun: the wine mile between Bad Kösen and Naumburg. About 20,000 people make their way from winery to winery every year. The walk is combined with the enjoyment of regional wines and a colorful entertainment program.

A fixed stop on the wine mile is the Landesweingut Kloster Pforta. Johanna Weinreiter and Isabel Reuter from the Landgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt mbH were present there this year to ask guests' opinions about the LIFE VineAdapt project. The answers will be used for the evaluation and further development of the project. Among other things, it is about the level of knowledge and attitudes of the guests to the measures implemented in the project.

The guests could participate online or also by printed questionnaire. The questionnaires will also be available to the general public shortly.

Warmer winters, hot and dry summers, local heavy rainfall: winegrowers also have to deal with the challenges of climate change. Earlier budbreak after a mild winter, for example, poses the threat of late frost, which can cause considerable damage to the vines. During long dry periods, they are more often under drought stress, which results in less berries forming, and other problems. Heavy rain can wash away the soil and an overall milder climate favours the immigration of new pests.

The international LIFE VineAdapt project aims to provide practical insights to make viticulture fit for climate change. Increasing biodiversity and adapting vineyard management are crucial for this. Eight practice and research partners from Germany, France, Austria and Hungary have joined forces in the project. It is co-financed with funds from the European environmental programme LIFE and the Ministry of Economics, Tourism, Agriculture and Forestry of Saxony-Anhalt. The Landgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt mbH acts as coordinating partner.

The interim results of the project were recently presented at an international workshop in Saxony-Anhalt. In addition, prominent experts gave a wide range of presentations on sustainable viticulture. In addition, winegrowers and representatives of winegrowing associations, scientific institutions and authorities finally worked out recommendations for climate-adapted viticulture.

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