Press Release: New Trademark Secured (UPW)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Linda Johnson-Bell Secures Trademark for "Ultra-Processed Wines" in Groundbreaking Move to Redefine Wine and Sustainability Conversations

[Oxford, UK – July 2025] – Wine expert, sustainability advocate, and author Linda Johnson-Bell, founder of The Wine and Climate Change Institute, has officially secured the trademark registration for the term "Ultra-Processed Wines", a bold and timely classification that aims to challenge conventional narratives around wine, health, and environmental responsibility.

This trademarked term, now legally protected in the UK, serves as a cornerstone for Johnson-Bell’s upcoming book and ongoing research into wine’s role in health, indigenous knowledge systems, and climate change. By coining "Ultra-Processed Wines," she draws a critical parallel between the industrialisation of the wine industry and the public health crisis linked to ultra-processed foods.

“We’ve learned to avoid ultra-processed foods -  now it’s time to apply that same wisdom to wine. Ultra-processed wine is stripped of nutrition, pumped with additives, and engineered for shelf life, not your health. In today’s wellness world, wine is the piranha - once savoured, now shunned. I feel that the UPW™ is a contributing factor to the global decline in wine consumption. What is not understood is that wine is not the enemy, industrial wine is,” says Johnson-Bell. “This trademark is not just a legal milestone - it’s a wake-up call.”

The trademark gives Johnson-Bell the exclusive right to use "Ultra-Processed Wines" in educational, publishing, media, and advocacy contexts, reinforcing her pioneering work in demystifying the production practices of industrial wines and promoting dry-farmed, clean, and sustainable alternatives.

A trusted voice in wine and policy, Johnson-Bell has advised governments, contributed to the United Nations SDG Encyclopedia, and is the author of several books on wine and climate change. Her latest work, set to launch later this year, will delve deeper into how Ultra-Processed Wines impact public health, climate resilience, and cultural heritage, offering consumers the tools to drink consciously and live well.

For press inquiries, interviews, or speaking engagements, please contact:
office@twacci.org