CARLO Awards for sustainability presented:
Winery Scherr, Winery Braunewell and Wine manufactory Stuttgart honoured as the most sustainable wineries.
- 02/04/2024
The association for holistic sustainability Fair and Green e. V. has presented sustainability awards for outstanding achievements to Winery Scherr (Palatinate), Winery Braunewell (Rheinhessen) and Wine manufactory Stuttgart (Württemberg). The best bachelor’s and master’s theses on the subject of sustainability were also honoured.
For the third time now, Fair and Green e. V. has presented awards to various players in the wine industry who have rendered outstanding services to the topic of sustainability. The prize is named after Carl von Carlowitz, one of the founders of the principle of sustainability. A ten-member jury of renowned representatives from the wine industry presented the following awards in 2024:
This year, the CARLO Award in the “Most Sustainable Winery” category went to two wineries that stood out for their special sustainability achievements according to the jury’s assessment. Winery Scherr from the Palatinate and Winery Braunewell from Rheinhessen were equally impressive with their outstanding achievements in the areas of ecology, economy and social issues, among others. The laudatory speech was held by wine merchant Guido Walter, who emphasised how impressed the jury was by the wineries’ long-standing and comprehensive sustainability performance and their respective social commitment. Both wineries implement climate protection measures (including photovoltaic systems), take measures to promote biodiversity and are also strongly committed to social issues in their region.
Wien manufactory Stuttgart (formerly Untertürkheim) was delighted to receive the CARLO Award in the “Most Sustainable Co-operative” category. Prof Dr Simone Loose from Hochschule Geisenheim University praised the cooperative’s good economic situation in a difficult industry environment. In addition to extensive biodiversity measures such as hedges, dead wood, rock piles and open water points, the detailed collection of key economic figures was also emphasised. In addition, the wine manufactory operates its own photovoltaic system and can thus cover 25% of its own electricity consumption. Through the “Helfende Hände” association, the cooperative is committed to helping children who have grown up in difficult circumstances.
The winners of the Carlo Awards 2024: Andreas Scherr (Winery Scherr), Martin Steinmann (Winery Schloss Sommerhausen), Saskia Wörthwein (Wine manufactory Stuttgart) and Stefan Braunewell (Winery Braunewell) | Photo: Fair and Green e.V.
Winery Schloss Sommerhausen received the CARLOAward in the special category “Biodiversity” for its long-standing and comprehensive commitment in this area. The award was accepted by the head and owner of the winery, Martin Steinmann. The laudator, Monica Reule from the DWI, recognised the winery’s great commitment to biodiversity, including the installation and maintenance of structural elements, compensation areas and the targeted preservation of important weeds. The estate is home to ecologically important and rare species such as the praying mantis, grey partridges and hoopoes.
Maximilian Borner (winner of the best bachelor thesis) and laudator Prof Dominik Durner (Weincampus Neustadt). Photo: Fair and Green e.V. Photo: Fair and Green e.V.
Mr Maximilian Borner from DHBW Heilbronn impressed the jury with his bachelor’s thesis on plant protection robots in viticulture to reduce soil compaction and received the award for the best bachelor’s thesis. Laudator Prof Dr Dominik Durner from the Neustadt Wine Campus praised the high scientific level of the work, which goes beyond the scope of a Bachelor’s thesis. Maximilian Borner’s thesis addresses an important but still little considered problem – soil compaction.
The prize for the best Master’s thesis was awarded to Annabelle Koopman from the Neustadt Wine Campus. The New Zealander’s thesis deals with approaches to CO2 reduction and the circular economy for wineries as part of a case study with wineries in New Zealand and is characterised by a very high degree of innovation and sustainability. The laudatory speech was held by Christian Schwörer, Secretary General of the German Winegrowers’ Association. He praised the great challenge of writing such a thesis in New Zealand and investigating this current and very important topic, which is forward-looking, as innovatively as Mrs Koopman did.
The CARLO Award for outstanding sustainability achievements
With the CARLO Award, Fair and Green e. V. recognises special achievements in the field of sustainability. The CARLO Award will be presented for the third time after 2018 and 2022.
The CARLO Awards are presented based on the decision of the jury. In 2024, the jury consists of the following persons:
- Prof. Marc Dreßler – Weincampus Neustadt
- Prof. Dominik. Durner – Weincampus Neustadt
- Prof. Eckhard Jedicke – HS Geisenheim
- Prof. Simone Loose – HS Geisenheim
- Susanne Moosmann – GUTcert mbH
- Sonja Ostermayer – Rheinhessenwein e. V.
- Monika Reule – Deutsches Weininstitut
- Christian Schwörer – Generalsekretär Deutscher Weinbauverband
- Dr. Keith Ulrich – Vorstandsvorsitzender Fair and Green e. V.
- Guido Walter – Weinfachhandlung Walter & Sohn
Further information is available at
https://www.fairandgreen.com/carlo-award/