How will it work?

How will the XGVRL work?

XGVRL — the eXtensible GrapeVine Reporting Language — is a new digital standard designed to help vineyards, especially urban and innovative ones, report their environmental and social performance in a structured, transparent, and interoperable way.

But how exactly will it work — and what makes it extensible?

A modular structure, built to grow

XGVRL is inspired by XBRL, the standard used worldwide for financial reporting. Like XBRL, it is based on open, machine-readable XML and structured into thematic chapters. Each chapter includes a list of data points (or “fields”) that follow leading ESG standards — including GRI, ESRS, TCFD, SASB, ISO 26000, and FAO SAFA.

The system is modular by design. This means:

  • Each vineyard only needs to report a core set of mandatory data, focused on environmental and social impact.

  • Additional chapters and indicators can be added over time as needed — for example, for economic metrics, climate adaptation, precision agriculture, or biodiversity monitoring.

  • Third-party modules can be created by certification bodies, public institutions, or research projects, and integrated into the system without altering the core.

That’s what makes XGVRL extensible: it’s designed to grow with the needs of those who use it.

The chapters (initial set)

In its first release, XGVRL will include the following six core chapters:

  1. Entity & Report Metadata
    Basic identification: who is reporting, where, when, and under what standards.

  2. Environmental Position
    Land use, soil health, biodiversity, emissions, and environmental practices.

  3. Social & Human Capital
    Workforce composition, labor rights, community impact, and inclusion.

  4. Resource Use & Flows
    Water consumption, energy use, fertilizers and pesticide input, waste and recycling.

  5. Risk & Compliance
    Climate risks, legal compliance, sustainability certifications and audits.

  6. Vineyard-Specific Disclosures
    Grape varieties, agronomic practices, harvest methods, and innovation indicators.

Future releases may introduce optional chapters for financial performance, carbon accounting, urban design integration, or educational/social programs linked to vineyards.

Technical format

XGVRL will use a standardized XML structure, easily integrable into digital platforms and compatible with open data principles.
Data can be entered manually, extracted from farm management systems, or sourced from automated sensors (e.g., for water or weather monitoring).

Why it matters

By making sustainability measurable, comparable, and transparent, XGVRL will support:

  • Winegrowers, by giving them tools to document and improve their practices

  • Institutions and funders, by providing reliable ESG data

  • Citizens, by giving access to the value that vineyards bring to their environment and communities

It’s not just a new reporting tool — it’s a language to tell the real story behind every vineyard.