Sustainability Series: Wines of Alentejo

João L. Barroso, Sustainability Manager for the Wines of Alentejo (part of the Alentejo Regional Winegrowing Commission), Portugal, has a degree in Environmental Engineering from ULHT, in Portugal and a Master in Science in Environmental Management and Policy from Lund University, in Sweden. He has over 18 years of experience in the environmental and sustainability sector, having lived in worked in Europe, the Middle East, and Australia. He has worked on a variety of projects such as environmental impact assessments, pollution prevention, cleaner production, environmental and waste management, green buildings, climate change, and sustainability reporting. Currently, as coordinator of the Wines of Alentejo Sustainability Program (WASP), he manages and monitors the sustainability performance of the biggest wine region in Portugal, researching and implementing best practices, and promoting experience exchange between the members of the program, both growers and producers. Alentejo Regional Winegrowing Commission - was founded in 1989 as a private institution dedicated to certifying, controlling, and protecting the Alentejo PDO and Alentejano PGI wines. It is responsible for promoting the Alentejo wines both domestically and in selected international markets. Alentejo is the only wine producing region in Portugal with a sustainability program, volunteer, and free of charge. Funding for the CVRA comes from the sale of certification seals to be placed on the back label of Alentejo bottles to guarantee the origin of the wine