On 17 November 2025, the Italian partners held a blended focus group bringing together several stakeholders. Even with very short notice, 11 participants joined, thus shedding light on the relevance of gender-based violence (GBV) topic across the wine supply chain. The group included representatives from a sustainable wine certification body, an oenologist, communication and distribution managers, a journalist, a retailer, a member of an Italian wine association, as well as a lawyer and a representative from an anti-violence center. The heterogeneity of these voices allowed for a rich discussion and an overview of GBV in the Italian wine sector.
Several takeaways emerged: the need for more precise data along the whole wine supply chain, the fact that GBV occurs in many different forms and situations, the urgency of agreeing and sharing a clear definition of what GBV means since it can range from incivility to harassment and to abuse.
Awareness and education emerged as crucial tools. Consequently, training, also online, should reach all levels along the wine supply chain. Furthermore, it is important that women are supported and empowered to report incidents and GBC cases without fear.
The Grapes of Change Observatory should not duplicate what existing organizations are doing, but it might promote, amplify and support what already exists (for example the anti-violence centers) and help the Italian wine sector to contrast its, still existing, cultural problems linked to a male-dominated and quite conservative sector.
By doing that, the Grapes of Change project could help the whole wine supply chain in reaching true gender equality.