Vinitaly 2011 ended with excellent results, an increase of 10% in visitors confirmed once again that good wine never goes out of fashion. Good wines, not only for the undisputed quality of the products, but also because of its being good for the environment and  for the community. The bio wine, produced by following the precepts of organic agriculture, with no sulfur and, above all, free of chemical residues and pesticides, is not new thing on the market.
But what is innovative is that sustainability in the wine industry is becoming more and more popular and required by wine consumers. A recent WineNews / Vinitaly survey showed that “green” labelled wine, the one ensuring the environmental commitment of the winery, would be an added value for 55% of the interviewed. The survey results were collected in a sort of handbook of the sustainable wine drinking, whose must are: locally grown wine, organic and biodynamic viticulture, ISO 14001 or EMAS certified wineries, lighter bottles, recycled paper labels, use of recycled or recyclable packaging, low-impact in terms of carbon footprint of production.
There are several Italian producers who understand the importance of sustainability to adequately respond to consumer demands. Zonin for instance, is already eliminating herbicides, fertilizers and chemical treatments, using only those permitted by the organic or biodynamic agriculture. “Approaching a more sustainable production also requires us to use a more precise viticulture, an aspect that we can no longer overlook in the vineyards where we bring this new philosophy. A lot of attention is paid to the fertility of the soil which must not only be maintained but improved over time without the use of chemicals, “says Franco Giacosa, technical director of the Zonin company in Gambellara (Vicenza, Italy).
It is not a suprise to find the Zonin name amont the list of the 73 Italian companies participating to the Bayer CropScience Magis project  for social and economic sustainability in the wine industry: from Caviro to Planeta,  Barone Ricasoli and Castello Banfi, to name some of the companies appearing in the Magis list. The aim of the Magis project is to provide companies with a common objective and measurable parameters and elements of communication to meet the demands of industry and consumers in terms of sustainability.
Obviously, the added value of a wine produced accordingly to the Magis criteria, will be lost if the supply chain and bars, restaurants and hotels do not abide to the same sustainable and responsible criteria. And this is what the ECOFFEE project is working at!