After the signing of the MoU, participants focused on the technical aspects of the collaboration and both municipalities presented existing research initiatives and related policies. Experts from other organisations also joined the virtual session. Some of the participating organisations were the Wuppertal Institute for Energy, Climate and Environment, the University of Applied Sciences in Geisenheim, the Agricultural and Wine Institutes of Argentina, as well as the National University of Cuyo in Argentina. The sharing of diverse experiences and points of view benefited both cities to identify common challenges and possible joint projects as well as to develop concrete steps, thus strengthening the friendship between the cities.

During the virtual meeting, some aspects of climate change, such as extreme weather events, were discussed. Heavy rainfall in their case leads to the danger of increased soil erosion and endangers not only wine production, but also infrastructure and buildings. A solution suggested to this challenge was the change of cultivation and the avoidance of soil erosion through water retention. In this way, the two municipalities could cope with the current climate threat. It also became clear that the challenge posed by climate impacts requires an integrated approach, with the cooperation of wine producers, the hospital sector, research institutes, universities and civil society.

Other topics discussed during the session were:

• Multi-stakeholder and transdisciplinary initiatives on the issue of climate impacts on wine production;
• Changes in water availability (surface and groundwater);
• Soil preparation and risks of erosive processes;
• Impacts of changes in rainfall and temperature on wine production; impacts of climate change on wine production.
• Heritage and cultural importance of wine production.