Sustainable Wine: So Much More Than Nurturing Vines Naturally

What is Sustainable Wine?

Sustainable wine is a term that’s commonly used to refer to wine that’s made in a way that’s kinder to the environment. It’s not to be confused with wines that are made organically, biodynamically or naturally, although typically there is overlap between them.

Wines that are considered to be sustainable are also packaged and transported in more eco-friendly ways. Reducing GHG emissions, preserving the local wildlife, reusing water, reducing waste, using renewable energy and maintaining terroir health are all taken into consideration when looking at if a wine comes from a sustainable vineyard.

In recent years, with growing global warming concerns, sustainability has become a hot topic in our world. And with healthy grapes and thriving vineyards being the bedrock of our industry, it only makes sense that the planet should be at the heart of every decision we make.

Sustainable wine is a title that holds a huge amount of significance. It takes years to transform a winemaking estate into an entirely eco-friendly environment and to fine-tune new production and distribution methods in order to limit any harm to our home. To earn that title is a true badge of honour that many in our industry are now aiming to obtain.

Eco-Friendly Winemaking

An organic, biodynamic or natural vineyard isn’t always a sustainable one but they are typically beneficial to the environment as they are wild and free. They are full of life, as nature intended, yet require constant attention to ensure that the delicate balance of the ecosystem is maintained.

It can take anything between three and ten years of hard work to turn a typical vineyard into a fully organic one where animals and insects can live in harmony with the vines, as this is how long chemicals can linger in the earth. It’s similar for sustainable vineyards too, especially those looking to earn an official certification for their work. Like their organic counterparts, sustainable vineyards may be increasing biodiversity but they also focus on other key elements such as water and energy conservation, reduced GHG emissions, sustainable packaging and social responsibility.

While organic winemaking follows the same ideology as organic farming (to be chemical-free, only use biological fertilisers and pesticides, and never genetically modify), biodynamic winemaking adopts a much more extreme philosophy. It’s a holistic approach to viticulture that follows astrology, where winemakers plan their work around lunar activity because everything in the universe is interconnected. It also only uses natural ways to encourage soil and plant health, such as burying cow horns filled with fresh manure in the vineyards around autumn time. It’s all quite extreme, but if you’re after a more environmentally friendly wine, biodynamic is a great one to try.

Natural winemaking is another low-intervention style of viticulture that puts caring for the ecosystem at its core. Vines used for this type of wine are not sprayed with anything at all, and harvesting grapes is all done by hand. While organic and biodynamic methods involve working with nature to stimulate healthy vine growth, the natural approach is to leave the plants alone so they are completely au naturel.

Winemakers to Watch

We work with many talented winemakers who care as passionately about the planet as they do wine. From embracing greener winemaking practices to building eco-friendly wineries and supply chains, these producers are doing all they can to look after the environment as they create great wines. Hear a little bit about the positive changes they’ve been making below.

Zuccardi’s striking winery that sits at the foot of the Andes is all about co-existing with its breath-taking surroundings. A hugely influential producer on the Argentinian wine scene, the Zuccardi family has been focusing on biodiverse agriculture and wine production that minimises impact on nature for some years now.

The vineyards are fed by the natural irrigation from the Andes Mountains and enjoy a long growing season that allows the grapes to develop deep flavours. The team use natural methods to encourage the grapes to prosper, then bring their wines to fruition in a solar panelled, state-of-the-art stone winery that was built using materials sourced from the valley. For Zuccardi, the greatest wines are true expressions of the landscape around them, and we can certainly see this ethos in their range.

Winemakers in picture-perfect Provence are doing everything in their power to protect their beautiful home. For Château Léoube, being more sustainable is the number one goal to ensure that viticulture in the French Riviera continues to thrive. The team have embarked on a 20 year journey to restore their land and strengthen the biodiversity of their estate that’s seen them achieve official organic certification, HEV (High Environmental Value) certification, and win countless awards. While they may not be considered a sustainable winery, they’re certainly on the right path.

Château Léoube believes that everything should be reused or recycled and has a zero waste policy, even putting grounded up vine prunings back into the soil to avoid needing to destroy waste. The team have also recently planted hundreds of new trees and turned 75% of their estate into wild land to give local endangered species a safe place to live. It’s fair to say that life is rosy for the wildlife at this rosé-producing paradise.

For anyone who’s shopped with us for a while, De Martino will be a familiar name that’s synonymous with top quality red and white Chilean wine. What De Martino fans may not be so aware of, though, is their impressive green credentials. On a mission to prevent water scarcity, give back to nature and produce wines while having the highest respect for the future, this is an award-winning winemaking team that balances conservation and creation masterfully.

De Martino is certified by the Wines of Chile Sustainability Code, cultivates over 300 hectares of organic vineyard and uses a sophisticated wastewater treatment system. As far as winery founder Pietro De Martino is concerned, “water and sunlight are the cornerstones of life, and without them, humanity will be in big trouble. So preserving water is a logical consequence of De Martino’s respect for nature”. We couldn’t agree more, and have huge admiration for the strides this team are making in positively influencing the wine industry.

Sitting over a thousand metres above sea level in one of Spain’s highest altitude areas, Altolandon winemaking estate has a unique perspective on Spanish viticulture. There are many practical reasons dictated by location that mean the team have to work a little differently here, but the main motivation for being revolutionary is to prove that wine can be made in the most challenging of places if you treat the land with respect.

Altolandon have transformed their boundary-pushing location into a successful, certified organic winemaking estate that promotes biodiversity and a hands-off approach to growing grapes. Thanks to the high altitude and cool temperatures, their wines are bright and fresh with crunchy acidity and a purity that can only be achieved when vines have had little intervention. The long-term plan for Altolandon is to be 100% natural with zero carbon emissions.

Based in the prestigious region of Bordeaux, Château du Seuil quite literally sits on 2,000 years’ worth of viticultural history, and this is something that husband and wife team, Sean and Nicola, like to honour through their expressive wines. With a background in medicine, the duo have a health-conscious outlook on winemaking, crafting clean, organic wines that are shaped by the famous terroir they come from.

Château du Seuil’s certified organic winery not only allows them to create authentic Bordeaux wines while protecting the surrounding environment, it also provides a wholesome home for Sean and Nicola’s family to grow up in. So, if you like the sound of traditional French wines made with people and planet in mind, you’ll no doubt be enchanted by this ethical château.

Another customer-favourite winery based in Chile that’s doing great things is Perez Cruz. We’re the oldest stockists of Perez Cruz in the UK and have seen them progress into one of the most eco-friendly wineries in South America, recently achieving official Wines of Chile Sustainability Code certification.

This code of conduct ensures the Perez Cruz team are always working sustainably in three key areas: the vineyard, the winery and the social sector. So, not only does this talented bunch give us silky smooth reds with wonderfully concentrated flavours we love, we also get the added feel-good factor of knowing these wines are produced as sustainably as possible.

Read Our Sustainability Story So Far

If you’d like to learn more about our own environmental, social and governance ambitions at Virgin Wines, head to our sustainability page here.