In order to understand what sustainable winemaking entails, we first have to fully understand what the winemaking process entails. In order to know how it can be done sustainably, we have to know how it is done conventionally. By understanding all sides, we can also have a clear picture of why so few winemakers are currently producing wine sustainably and how winemakers and consumers all play a role in the future of sustainable winemaking.
Considering the wine industry is directly impacted by climate change and is suffering tremendously under the changing circumstances, it is the responsibility of the winemakers to combat this by leading by example.
What Does Sustainable Wine Growing Include?
The definition of sustainable winemaking is multi-faceted and includes a number of different elements. This is one of the beauties of sustainable winemaking because there isn’t just one way of doing it. Winemakers (and farmers of other agricultural products) have so many opportunities to incorporate sustainable practices.
The broad term for sustainable winemaking essentially means that the grapes are grown in a way that protects the environment and conserves the natural resources. This can include several different practices, from minimizing irrigation in order to preserve water to composting and recycling. Many wineries also recycle water or incorporate animals in their vineyards as pest control. In the vineyard alone, there are a number of sustainable techniques that can be implemented, and that’s before they even make, package, or ship the wines.
When looking at conventional wines, there is an enormous focus on pesticides and herbicides, which poisons the soil, animals, and air. There is often also overuse of irrigation, using millions of gallons of water that could have been used sparingly. By changing these conventional methods, winemakers can make a huge difference to the environment, especially since there are hundreds of thousands of winemakers who repeat this process year after year.
What Are The Challenges Of Sustainable Wine Growing?
The issue with sustainable winemaking is that it requires winemakers to shift their way of thinking and change everything they have learned about winemaking. Producing wine is challenging enough, considering there are so many external and internal influences that dictate how the product develops. So most winemakers resist the idea of sustainable winemaking, viewing it as just another obstacle in their way to making quality wine.
In order to achieve a sustainable certification, wineries have to jump through hoops and reach a number of almost unachievable standards before they are given a sustainable certification that values their attempt at sustainable winemaking. So even if winemakers reduce their consumption of water or rely merely on solar energy, it doesn’t guarantee a certification for their efforts. And working hard on being sustainable, if it isn’t rewarded or valued, can seem pointless for these business owners.
The number of exceptionally high standards that wineries have to meet in order to be accredited as a sustainable farm can be off-putting.
How Consumers Play A Role In Sustainable Wine Growing
Consumers are often the driving force in the wine industry, and their demand plays a huge role in how winemakers make wine. If there is a high demand from consumers for organic wine, you will immediately notice wineries strive for organic farming. The same goes for sustainable farming.
The more consumers lean toward wineries that farm sustainably, the more wineries will make an effort to follow suit. But wineries are not going to feel inclined to focus their energy on being sustainably accredited if the marketing isn’t demanding it yet.
Of course, from a legal standpoint, there should be an attempt to accredit more versions of ‘sustainability.’ By being more inclusive of wineries’ attempts to practice sustainability, more wineries will be encouraged to pursue these ventures.
Key Takeaways
Sustainable wine farming is essentially focused on preserving the natural environment and reducing all air, water, and soil pollution.
Some certifications accredit sustainable wine farming, but they are often so strict, discouraging winemakers from striving for the certificates.
As consumers, we can determine how many wineries farm sustainably, so it is our responsibility to opt for sustainable wine so more wineries will feel inclined to farm accordingly.
What you need to know about sustainable winegrowing.
In order to understand what sustainable winemaking entails, we first have to fully understand what the winemaking process entails. In order to know how it can be done sustainably, we have to know how it is done conventionally. By understanding all sides, we can also have a clear picture of why so few winemakers are currently producing wine sustainably and how winemakers and consumers all play a role in the future of sustainable winemaking.
Considering the wine industry is directly impacted by climate change and is suffering tremendously under the changing circumstances, it is the responsibility of the winemakers to combat this by leading by example.xa
In order to understand what sustainable winemaking entails, we first have to fully understand what the winemaking process entails. In order to know how it can be done sustainably, we have to know how it is done conventionally. By understanding all sides, we can also have a clear picture of why so few winemakers are currently producing wine sustainably and how winemakers and consumers all play a role in the future of sustainable winemaking.
Considering the wine industry is directly impacted by climate change and is suffering tremendously under the changing circumstances, it is the responsibility of the winemakers to combat this by leading by example.
What Does Sustainable Wine Growing Include?
The definition of sustainable winemaking is multi-faceted and includes a number of different elements. This is one of the beauties of sustainable winemaking because there isn’t just one way of doing it. Winemakers (and farmers of other agricultural products) have so many opportunities to incorporate sustainable practices.
The broad term for sustainable winemaking essentially means that the grapes are grown in a way that protects the environment and conserves the natural resources. This can include several different practices, from minimizing irrigation in order to preserve water to composting and recycling. Many wineries also recycle water or incorporate animals in their vineyards as pest control. In the vineyard alone, there are a number of sustainable techniques that can be implemented, and that’s before they even make, package, or ship the wines.
When looking at conventional wines, there is an enormous focus on pesticides and herbicides, which poisons the soil, animals, and air. There is often also overuse of irrigation, using millions of gallons of water that could have been used sparingly. By changing these conventional methods, winemakers can make a huge difference to the environment, especially since there are hundreds of thousands of winemakers who repeat this process year after year.
What Are The Challenges of Sustainable Wine Growing?
The issue with sustainable winemaking is that it requires winemakers to shift their way of thinking and change everything they have learned about winemaking. Producing wine is challenging enough, considering there are so many external and internal influences that dictate how the product develops. So most winemakers resist the idea of sustainable winemaking, viewing it as just another obstacle in their way to making quality wine.
In order to achieve a sustainable certification, wineries have to jump through hoops and reach a number of almost unachievable standards before they are given a sustainable certification that values their attempt at sustainable winemaking. So even if winemakers reduce their consumption of water or rely merely on solar energy, it doesn’t guarantee a certification for their efforts. And working hard on being sustainable, if it isn’t rewarded or valued, can seem pointless for these business owners.
The number of exceptionally high standards that wineries have to meet in order to be accredited as a sustainable farm can be off-putting.
The definition of sustainable winemaking is multi-faceted and includes a number of different elements.
How Consumers Play A Role In Sustainable Wine Growing
Consumers are often the driving force in the wine industry, and their demand plays a huge role in how winemakers make wine. If there is a high demand from consumers for organic wine, you will immediately notice wineries strive for organic farming. The same goes for sustainable farming.
The more consumers lean toward wineries that farm sustainably, the more wineries will make an effort to follow suit. But wineries are not going to feel inclined to focus their energy on being sustainably accredited if the marketing isn’t demanding it yet.
Of course, from a legal standpoint, there should be an attempt to accredit more versions of ‘sustainability.’ By being more inclusive of wineries’ attempts to practice sustainability, more wineries will be encouraged to pursue these ventures.
Key Marketing Takeaways
Sustainable wine farming is essentially focused on preserving the natural environment and reducing all air, water, and soil pollution.
Some certifications accredit sustainable wine farming, but they are often so strict, discouraging winemakers from striving for the certificates.
As consumers, we can determine how many wineries farm sustainably, so it is our responsibility to opt for sustainable wine so more wineries will feel inclined to farm accordingly.
