The Climate & Nature Programme supports practical, nature-based projects with the growers who make our wines. This year, we are inviting members to help shape the future of the programme by voting for the projects they would most like to see funded. For the sake of clarity, this is not a formal vote of the members of The Wine Society under its constitution/rules but only members of The Wine Society are eligible to vote.
By taking part in the vote, members are deemed to have accepted these Terms of Engagement.
Who can vote?
- Voting is open to current members of The Wine Society aged 18 years or over.
- Employees of The Wine Society and members of The Wine Society’s Committee may vote, but their votes will not receive any additional weighting or influence.
- Producers, agents, employees, family members or other persons connected to those who entered into the draw are excluded from casting a vote.
- Members may only vote once.
How does voting work?
- Members will be presented with a shortlist of projects that have already been assessed and shortlisted by an independent judging panel.
- Members can vote for three projects – if members choose to vote then they will be required to vote for three projects.
- Voting will open at 00.01am on 6 October 2026 and close at 23.59pm 22 October 2026.
- Votes submitted after the closing date will not be counted.
How will projects be selected for funding?
- Once voting closes, projects will be ranked according to the number of votes they receive, from highest to lowest.
- The Climate & Nature Programme has a total budget of approximately £60,000 available for the 2026 funding round.
- Funding will be allocated in rank order, starting with the highest-ranked project and working down the list until the available budget has been fully allocated.
- Projects have requested different levels of funding. As a result, not all shortlisted projects will necessarily receive funding.
- The final number of projects funded will depend on both the voting outcome and the amount of funding requested by the highest-ranked projects.
Does voting guarantee funding?
- No.
- Voting forms an important part of the final selection process. However, The Wine Society reserves the right, in exceptional circumstances, to remove a project from consideration or withdraw funding if there is a significant change in circumstances affecting the applicant or the project.
Will members receive anything for voting?
- No.
- There is no prize draw, reward, payment, discount or incentive for a member that is associated with voting.
- Voting is entirely voluntary and is intended to give members an opportunity to participate in the Climate & Nature Programme.
How will the results be communicated?
- The Wine Society intends to publish the results of the vote and announce the projects selected for funding in January 2027
- We will also share updates on funded projects through our Climate & Nature Programme Hub on our website, through general member communications and in our annual sustainability reporting.
Data and privacy
- Personal data supplied as part of the voting process will be processed in accordance with The Wine Society’s Privacy Notice.
- Voting data may be used in aggregate form to understand levels of member engagement and participation in the programme.
- Individual voting choices will not be published.
General
- The Wine Society reserves the right to suspend, amend or withdraw the member vote if circumstances make this necessary.
- The Wine Society’s decision regarding the operation of the vote and allocation of funding is final.
- These Terms of Engagement are governed by English law.
Promoter of the vote
International Exhibition Co-operative Wine Society Limited (“The Wine Society”). Registered under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 (register number 1824R). Address: Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, SG1 2BT