As sustainability in wine production has grown in importance among wine lovers and producers around the world over the last 20 years, there has also been huge growth in eco-certifications and labelling schemes.
There are now several global and local 'environmental' and 'sustainable' wine labels, as well as different certifications by accredited third-party certifying bodies and independent voluntary programmes to help consumers to make more sustainable wine choices and to increase consumer trust in sustainable wine.
Fortunately for local wine lovers, South Africa is a world leader in sustainable wine production, placing many local wines at the forefront of sustainable wines, including the 55 WWF Conservation Champions in the Cape Winelands - the environmental leaders in South Africa’s wine industry.
Local certification schemes include The Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trading Association (WIETA), Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) and Certified Heritage Vineyards. We also have independent local recognition labels under the stewardship of NGOs like the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Conservation Champion Programme that help wine lovers to make informed choices and support our environmental wine leaders!
Fairtrade and WIETA
In South Africa, WIETA (The Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trading Association) actively promotes and certifies ethical trade and fair labour practices in the wine industry value chain. It is similar to the widely recognised global Fairtrade certification but is based on local regulations and best practice. Fairtrade licensed wineries comply with ethical and fair economic, social and environmental standards. Recent research shows that 43% of consumers would choose a Fairtrade product.
Sustainable Wine South Africa
Sustainable Wine South Africa (SWSA) is the alliance between the Wine and Spirit Board (WSB); the internationally recognised Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) scheme; and Wines of South Africa (WoSA). The WSB currently runs two ‘Integrity and Sustainability’ certification systems: the Wine of Origin (WO) seal and the IPW seal.
The WSB’s Integrity & Sustainability seal certifies that all label information relating to origin, cultivar and vintage is correct and guarantees the wine was produced in an environmentally responsible manner, with every link in the wine’s supply chain meeting the IPW criteria for sustainable production. More than 95% of South Africa’s wine farms are certified to use this seal.
Certified Heritage Vineyards
The local Certified Heritage Vineyards Seal is a world first and guarantees the wine is from vineyards older than 35 years. Currently, 125 wine farms carry this seal that verifies the wine was grown according to the Old Vine Project (OVP) guidelines that aim to preserve old vines in South Africa.
WWF Conservation Champion
The striking sugarbird and protea logo is a visual guarantee that the wine is from one of the 55 WWF Conservation Champion wine farms across the Cape Winelands. The programme is not a certification, but a voluntary membership model that requires achieving 70% or more in South Africa’s IPW wine industry environmental certification scheme as well as adhering to WWF conservation principles, including biodiversity-friendly and regenerative farming practices, conserving natural areas and continually improving water and energy efficiencies. To see which of your favourite wine farms are listed as a WWF Conservation Champion, download the Champion Wine Guide App at www.championwineguide.co.za.
Organic, biodynamic and vegan labels
There are also a number of organic, biodynamic and vegan labels, many of which are not specific to South Africa but are driven by international standards and accreditation systems.
Organic
Consumer preference for organic products due to health and food quality has been increasing and becoming more widespread. A wine certified as ‘organic’ is produced without synthetic chemical pesticides or fertilisers. Certification requires a third-party audit by local approved certification bodies such as EcoCert South Africa and CERES (CERtification of Environmental Standards South Africa) that adhere to the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) and EU organic regulation standards. Certification can often come at a high cost and some producers may not be able to justify the cost of the audit even though they are farming organically.
Biodynamic
A more progressive certification is biodynamic wine production, a holistic system that avoids synthetic chemical pesticides or fertilisers; uses natural pest control and soil health solutions; and plants according to lunar cycles. Demeter is the certification body for certifying biodynamic wine internationally. There are only a handful of Biodynamic certified wine producers in South Africa.
Vegan
Vegan certification verifies that the wine production techniques are vegan i.e. no egg whites or milk protein are used as fining agents. In South Africa, wine farms are certifying their wines vegan to increase transparency, however this does not mean that all wine not labelled vegan contain animal products, so if unsure, ask the wine farm directly. Examples of vegan eco-labels you might find on your wine bottle include the internationally recognized Control Union Vegan Standard, the European V-Label seal, and the BevVeg! Vegan standard.
Farming for the Future & EnviroWines
Other independent sustainable wine labels that wine lovers might find on their wine bottles include Woolworth’s Farming for the Future seal that guarantees sustainable practices on Woolworths-supplier farms and wineries, as well as EnviroWines, a local independent label recognising wine farms using above average environmentally sustainable practices, verified according to auditing criteria based on the IPW scheme.
Your choices contribute to a better world
With such a variety of environmental and sustainability claims out there, it can be daunting to wine lovers to correctly understand what they are purchasing. However looking for recognised and trusted sustainable wine labels like the ones we unpacked in this article help ensure consumers make informed and sustainable wine buying choices.
Producing and drinking wine consciously and sustainably has a positive impact on future generations. Looking for a sustainable wine is not only trendy, but it is also a great way to ensure your consumer choices contribute to a better world!
For more information about the prestigious WWF Conservation Champions programme, or to find out if your favourite wine is a WWF Conservation Champion, visit the website, or follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.
Choose wines for your palate and the planet. Shop our WWF Conservation Champion Mixed Pack HERE and give back to the planet.