On the 2nd and 3rd of April 2025, the University of Nova Gorica (Slovenia) and the Regional Development Agency ROD Ajdovščina hosted the second Consortium Meeting of the Interreg Alpine Space Project “RESPOnD – Climate Resilient Alpine Wine Orchards” in the picturesque Vipava Valley, in Western Slovenia.
Representatives from all project partners, including research institutions, regional development agencies, nature parks and chambers of commerce, gathered at the historic Lanthieri Mansion – home of the University and heart of the School for Viticulture and Enology – for two productive days of discussions, site visits and stakeholder engagement.
The meeting focused on exchanging and building knowledge on key topics such as Alpine Wine Orchards, Ecosystem-Based Adaptations and Living Lab approaches. The partners participated in a collaborative workshop on the development of the pilot areas and focused on building local resilience strategies.
Participants also had the opportunity to visit the University’s School for Viticulture and Enology and the Lanthieri Mansion, an emblematic and historical site for both the scientific and cultural heritage of the region, a testimony of its dynamism.
A key moment was the field trip across the Vipava Valley with a visit to the Guerilla Winery, known for its innovative biodynamic viticulture practices. The excursion offered valuable insights into sustainable, locally rooted production models that embody the spirit of the RESPOnD project.
In parallel, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Nice conducted a series of interviews with local stakeholders, giving voice to those directly affected by climate change in rural Alpine wineries. The interviewees included:
- Ferjančič, from the Guerilla Winery, who shared her approach to sustainable viticulture;
- Škvarč, head of the Vrhpolje Breeding Centre, who spoke about genetic selection for grapevine resilience;
- Mihajlovska, a student at the University of Nova Gorica, who represented the perspective of the next generation of researchers.
Are you interested in their point of view? Stay tuned as their interviews will be released on RESPOnD website and YouTube channel!
Partners will keep up the good work until the next in person meeting in Austria in October 2025!
Follow us on LinkedIn (RESPOnD Project Interreg Alpine Space | LinkedIn) and Instagram (@respondalpine_) for more updates on the project!
