The 13 Most Sustainable Wines For Your Summer Parties
The wine industry, deeply rooted in agriculture and reliant on natural resources, stands at a critical juncture. Climate change, water scarcity, and biodiversity loss pose existential threats to vineyards worldwide. Yet, a growing vanguard of wineries is embracing sustainability not merely as a trend, but as a foundational philosophy, demonstrating that exceptional wine can be produced in harmony with the environment.
The Pillars of Sustainable Winemaking
Sustainable winemaking encompasses a holistic approach that considers environmental, social, and economic factors. It moves beyond simply organic or biodynamic certification, delving into every aspect of the wine's lifecycle, from grape to glass. Key areas of focus include:
Protecting Endangered Species & Biodiversity: Fostering a rich ecosystem within and around vineyards, recognizing that a healthy environment supports healthy vines.
Using Less Water: Implementing advanced irrigation techniques and water management strategies to conserve this precious resource.
Reducing Carbon Emissions: Minimizing greenhouse gas emissions throughout the entire production process, from vineyard machinery to transportation.
Storing Carbon (Sequestration): Actively removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and integrating it into the soil and surrounding environment.
Protecting Water Quality: Preventing pollution of waterways from vineyard runoff and winery operations.
Improving Supply Chain Sustainability: Extending sustainable practices beyond the winery walls to suppliers, distributors, and packaging.
1. Torres Winery (Spain): A Global Leader in Decarbonization
Torres has set ambitious goals for carbon reduction, aiming for a 60% reduction by 2030. Their strategies include extensive reforestation, cover cropping for carbon sequestration, organic vineyard management, and significant investment in renewable energy. They actively research and implement cutting-edge technologies for carbon capture and storage.
The sheer scale of their operations presents a challenge in transitioning all aspects to sustainable models. Research and implementation of new technologies require substantial investment and continuous adaptation to evolving climate data. They built a water regeneration plant, operational since 2016, which enables the reuse of nearly half of the treated process water.
The Penedès winery now produces over 50% of its energy needs through photovoltaic panels and a biomass boiler—and the promotion of sustainable mobility, including the use of hybrid and electric vehicles and a solar-powered electric train at its visitor center.
Familia Torres continues to progress towards its decarbonization objectives with new initiatives, particularly aimed at reducing emissions from its suppliers (scope 3), which account for nearly 90% of the winery’s carbon footprint. The company plans to lower transport-related emissions by promoting rail distribution for its wines across Europe and further reducing bottle weight by adopting the lightest wine bottle on the market, weighing just 300 grams, for selected wines—99% of the bottles used are already classified as lightweight (under 420 grams).
2. Jackson Family Wines (USA): Pioneering Water Conservation
Jackson Family wines created their Rooted for Good: Roadmap to 2030 to achieve sustainability such as cutting carbon footprint in half by 2030 and become climate positive by 2050. This inckudes expanding on-site renewable energy to power more than 50% of their annual winery operations’ electricity by 2025, with projects that include installing a utility-scale wind turbine and floating solar arrays. Unfortunately their last sustainability report was last updated in 2021, so limited information is available on what’s being done today.
In drought-prone California, Jackson Family Wines utilizes AI-driven water conservation strategies. This includes real-time soil moisture sensors for optimized irrigation, recycled wastewater systems, and the planting of drought-resistant rootstocks. They are also exploring advanced remote sensing technologies for vineyard water management.
Widespread adoption of these technologies can be costly for smaller vineyards. Overcoming traditional irrigation habits and ensuring consistent data interpretation are ongoing hurdles.
3. Yealands Estate (New Zealand): The Carbon-Positive Aspirations
Yealands aims to be the world's most sustainable winery, boasting 100% solar power and significant wind energy generation. They have incorporated eco-architecture, including a carbon-negative winery building made from hemp bricks, and implement seashore grass planting to mitigate coastal erosion. Their focus on self-sufficiency in energy is truly groundbreaking.
The northern side of their winery roof in the Awatere Valley is home to over 1,300 solar panels, one of the largest solar panel installations in New Zealand.
In areas of the vineyard that are unsuitable for grape growing they are restoring vegetation and developing 25 wetlands.
Maintaining carbon-positive status amidst increasing production can be difficult. The initial investment in renewable energy infrastructure is substantial, and integrating such systems seamlessly into operations requires expertise.
4. Henschke Wines (Australia): Guardians of Ancient Vines and Soil Health
Henschke, home to some of the world's oldest vineyards, prioritizes regenerative agriculture. In fact the owner Prue Henschke has over 50 years’ experience as a viticulturist, botanist and conservationist.
Practices include minimal tillage, extensive use of compost and organic mulching to enrich soil, and intercropping with native plants to support pollinators and vine health. Their commitment to long-term soil vitality is a cornerstone of their sustainability.
A conservation program has restored native grasslands, woodlands and forests to 50 per cent of the Henschke landscape – 18,000 trees were planted on one property alone. Some of these gum trees provide a food source for rescued koalas in South Australia.
Regenerative practices often require a paradigm shift in farming mindsets and can be labor-intensive. Demonstrating immediate economic returns can be a challenge, as the benefits accrue over the long term.
Organic alternatives have replaced energy-intensive, disruptive fertilizers and pesticides. Prue uses biodynamic composts made from the farm’s cow manure and eggshells, as well as microbiological and mineral-rich preparations and sprays to enrich the soil and create the best environment for plant growth. Vintage waste, including grape skins and stalks, is composted and added to the green waste compost, which is spread under vine on a three-year cycle. These practices are used in tune with the seasons and the energy cycles between the earth and the moon.
The current solar system now generates approximately 35% of the winery’s energy consumption, which equates to a reduction of 60 tonnes of greenhouse gases or the planting of 300 trees every year.
5. Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery (USA): Regenerative Organic Certified Trailblazers
Spottswoode, organically farmed since 1985, is now Regenerative Organic Certified. They were the first Napa Valley winery to become a Certified B Corporation.
They employ no-till farming, nutrient-rich cover crops, and sheep grazing to enhance soil health. Notably, they financially incentivize and provide technical assistance to other growers transitioning to organic farming, demonstrating a commitment to industry-wide change.
They support biodiversity through bird boxes, insectaries, apiaries, and
animal husbandry.
The certification process for regenerative agriculture can be rigorous and demanding. Educating consumers about the nuances of regenerative practices compared to simply organic can also be a marketing challenge.
6. Domaine Zind-Humbrecht (France): Biodynamic Pioneers
A stalwart in biodynamic viticulture, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht views the vineyard as a self-contained ecosystem. Their practices include precise timing for vineyard work based on lunar cycles, the use of biodynamic preparations to enhance soil and vine vitality, and a deep understanding of microbial life in the soil. It has been organic since 1998 and biodynamic since 2002.
Biodynamic farming requires intense dedication, often defying conventional agricultural logic. The perceived mystical elements can be a barrier for some, and consistent quality across vintages can be demanding due to the reliance on natural rhythms.
7. Tablas Creek Vineyard (USA): Championing Drought-Tolerant Varieties and Biodiversity
As a pioneer of Rhône varieties in California, Tablas Creek emphasizes dry farming and the use of drought-tolerant rootstocks. They have a strong focus on biodiversity, introducing livestock for natural fertilization and weed control, and maintaining extensive natural habitats within their property.
They are also a leader in promoting "Patagonian Toothfish" (a sustainable fish species) pairings to support ocean health.
Shifting to dry farming can initially reduce yields, posing an economic challenge. Introducing diverse animal life requires careful management to avoid damage to vines.
8. Cullen Wines (Australia): Carbon Neutral and Beyond
Cullen Wines is a certified carbon-neutral winery, employing biodynamic practices, solar energy, and actively engaging in tree planting for carbon sequestration. They are also innovators in lightweight glass bottles and explore alternative packaging solutions to reduce their overall carbon footprint.
Achieving and maintaining carbon neutrality requires continuous monitoring and investment across all operations. Consumer perception of alternative packaging can sometimes be a hurdle. By 2025 Cullen Wines will commit to using only lightweight glass of under 400grams for all wine products. This will save 22 tons of glass annually with embodied emissions of 20-ton CO2/E, a saving of 2.5% a year on FY2023 emissions.
In 2024 Cullen Wines doubled its solar installation and will save around 43,000 kWh of energy use, this will equate to 3% total emissions savings a year on FY2023 emissions.
Enjoy Self-Guided Spiral Garden Biodynamic Tour.
9. Fetzer Vineyards (USA): Renewable Energy and Water Reclamation
Fetzer was one of the first wineries to embrace renewable energy, utilizing solar power for a significant portion of its operations. They have also invested heavily in water reclamation and reuse systems, significantly reducing their reliance on fresh water. Their commitment to social responsibility, including fair labor practices, is also a hallmark. They’re a CarbonNeutral® winery—the first winery to receive this certification in the U.S.
They partnered with Fill It Forward—a fellow B Corp—to get clean water into communities and keep plastic out of our oceans. Everyday impact is as easy as downloading an app, applying the sticker you get from your Fetzer wine on your reusable water bottle and scanning the sticker with the app when you refill it. Every time you reuse—and scan the sticker—Fetzer and Fill it Forward contribute to charitable projects around the world to bring clean water to communities that need it.
They.ve reduced water intensity by up to 25%, by pairing innovative technologies with old-school techniques to be more efficient. We rely on cloud computing—which is like data clouds helping real clouds—that uses digital sensors to monitor the moisture levels of the grapes and soil and turn that into data to ensure no water is wasted in the vineyards. And then there’s the worms (yes, worms!) who efficiently treat our wastewater.
As the first TRUE ZeroWaste Certified winery in the world, they are highly efficient with waste to champion new ways to remove waste and nonrecyclable materials from our production process.
Integrating large-scale renewable energy systems can be expensive. Public perception of a larger winery maintaining authentic sustainable practices can sometimes be skeptical, requiring robust transparency.
10. Ridge Vineyards (USA): Historic Quality with Modern Sustainability
Ridge Vineyards, while renowned for its traditional winemaking, has embraced sustainable practices, including organic farming, responsible water management through drip irrigation and soil moisture monitoring, and a focus on energy efficiency in the cellar. They also prioritize local sourcing to reduce their supply chain footprint.
They are one of the largest growers of organically certified grapes in Sonoma County and in the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation.
As of harvest 2022, 100% of their estate vineyards have been certified organic, including Monte Bello, Lytton Springs, Geyserville, and East Bench. All of the vineyards that are certified by the Fish Friendly Farming Environmental Certification Program, which acknowledges agricultural properties working to restore fish and wildlife habitats and improve water quality.
On average, glass bottles alone account for about 20% of total emissions in the wine industry; the global average bottle weight is 550g. In 2022, Ridge Vineyards converted entirely to lighter bottles weighing 465g.
Balancing historical winemaking traditions with modern sustainable innovations requires careful planning and execution. Retrofitting older facilities for energy efficiency can be costly.
11. Alvaro Palacios (Spain): Restoring Ancient Vineyards and Biodiversity
Alvaro Palacios is celebrated for revitalizing abandoned, high-altitude vineyards, often employing mule plowing and manual labor, which inherently reduces fossil fuel use. Their focus on preserving ancient, indigenous grape varieties and their accompanying microbial ecosystems is a significant contribution to biodiversity.
The labor-intensive nature of their practices can be expensive. The remoteness of some vineyards presents logistical challenges for sustainable distribution.
12. Miguel Torres Chile (Chile): Driving Regenerative Agriculture in South America
A sister company to Torres Spain, Miguel Torres Chile is a leader in sustainable practices in the Southern Hemisphere. They are actively implementing regenerative agriculture, including cover cropping and composting, and pioneering research into drought-resistant grape varieties suitable for their changing climate. They also utilize gravity-fed systems in their winery to reduce energy consumption.
Adapting regenerative practices to diverse microclimates within Chile can be complex. Educating a broader market about the benefits of sustainable Chilean wines is an ongoing effort.
13. Trefethen Family Vineyards (USA): Holistic Estate Sustainability
Trefethen boasts a comprehensive approach to sustainability, including being one of the first wineries to offset 100% of their electricity with on-site solar power. They implement robust waste diversion programs, including composting pomace, and have restored natural habitats on their property. Their commitment extends to responsible sourcing of materials throughout their supply chain.
They have placed nesting boxes for bluebirds, owls, and bats around the vineyard. All of these species are native to the area and play important roles as natural predators. Bats and bluebirds are voracious insectivores, doing their part to keep our insect populations in check.
A central drain was constructed at the winery to capture the run-off during winter storms and the used water when we wash our tanks and barrels. This water is transferred to biological settlement ponds where the organic compounds are digested by bacteria, rendering the water appropriate for re-use in vineyard irrigation.
With multiple solar arrays across the estate, we were one of the first wineries to offset 100% of our electricity usage with on-site solar power. This includes charging more and more electric cars, as we modernize our small fleet of company vehicles.
Maintaining a high level of sustainability across all estate operations requires continuous dedication and investment. Monitoring the impact of various initiatives can be resource-intensive.
Best Practices for Sustainable Wine Production
Protecting Endangered Species & Biodiversity
Habitat Restoration: Dedicate portions of the vineyard and surrounding land to native plant species, creating corridors and refuges for local wildlife. (e.g., planting hedgerows, restoring riparian zones).
Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Utilize natural predators (e.g., owls, bats, beneficial insects) and biological controls instead of synthetic pesticides that can harm non-target species. Install nesting boxes for birds of prey.
Cover Cropping and Intercropping: Plant diverse cover crops between vine rows to provide habitat and food sources for beneficial insects and small animals, improving soil health simultaneously.
Reduced Tillage/No-Till: Minimize soil disturbance to protect soil organisms and fungi, which are vital for a healthy ecosystem.
Protecting Waterways: Establish buffer zones around streams and rivers to prevent runoff of sediment and nutrients, which can harm aquatic life.
Using Less Water
Precision Irrigation (Drip Irrigation & Sensors): Implement drip irrigation systems that deliver water directly to the vine roots. Utilize soil moisture sensors and weather data to optimize irrigation schedules, applying water only when and where it's needed.
Drought-Resistant Rootstocks and Varieties: Select grape varietals and rootstocks naturally adapted to drier conditions, reducing reliance on irrigation.
Dry Farming: Where suitable, practice dry farming, relying solely on natural rainfall. This encourages vines to develop deeper root systems, increasing resilience.
Water Recycling and Reuse: Implement closed-loop systems to collect, treat, and reuse winery wastewater for irrigation or other non-potable uses.
Rainwater Harvesting: Collect rainwater from winery roofs and other surfaces for use in irrigation or cleaning.
Canopy Management: Optimize vine canopy to reduce water loss through evapotranspiration.
Reducing Carbon Emissions
Renewable Energy: Transition to solar, wind, or geothermal energy to power vineyard and winery operations (e.g., pumps, lighting, cooling).
Energy Efficiency: Upgrade to energy-efficient equipment (LED lighting, efficient cooling systems, variable speed drives for pumps). Insulate cellars to reduce heating and cooling demands.
Lightweight Packaging: Utilize lighter glass bottles, or explore alternative packaging like cans, bag-in-box, or recycled PET, significantly reducing transportation emissions.
Electric Vehicles and Machinery: Invest in electric forklifts, vineyard tractors, and company vehicles to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Local Sourcing: Source materials, supplies, and services locally to minimize transportation distances.
Efficient Logistics: Optimize shipping routes and consolidate shipments to reduce fuel consumption.
Storing Carbon (Sequestration)
Regenerative Agriculture: Employ practices like cover cropping, no-till farming, and composting to build soil organic matter, which stores significant amounts of carbon.
Agroforestry: Integrate trees and shrubs into vineyard landscapes (e.g., hedgerows, windbreaks) to sequester carbon in biomass and roots.
Composting Pomace and Organic Waste: Convert grape pomace and other organic winery waste into compost, returning carbon and nutrients to the vineyard soil.
Reforestation: Plant native trees on unused land to create new carbon sinks and enhance biodiversity.
Protecting Water Quality
Responsible Chemical Use: Eliminate or drastically reduce the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, which can leach into groundwater and surface water. Embrace organic and biodynamic practices.
Erosion Control: Implement practices like cover cropping, terracing, and contour planting to prevent soil erosion, which carries sediment and agricultural chemicals into waterways.
Wastewater Treatment: Install advanced wastewater treatment systems to ensure all winery effluent is clean before discharge or reuse, preventing contamination of water sources.
Spill Prevention: Implement strict protocols and infrastructure to prevent spills of chemicals, fuels, and other potential pollutants.
Riparian Buffers: Maintain or restore vegetated buffer zones along waterways to filter runoff and absorb pollutants.
Improving Supply Chain Sustainability
Supplier Engagement: Work with suppliers who share a commitment to sustainability, encouraging them to adopt eco-friendly practices.
Certification and Traceability: Seek out certified sustainable suppliers and implement robust traceability systems to track materials from source to finished product.
Recycled and Recyclable Materials: Prioritize packaging materials with high recycled content and ensure they are easily recyclable or compostable.
Collaborative Logistics: Partner with other wineries or businesses to optimize transportation and reduce empty hauls.
Fair Labor Practices: Ensure ethical labor conditions and fair wages for all workers throughout the supply chain, from grape pickers to bottling line staff.
Circular Economy Principles: Explore opportunities to create closed-loop systems within the supply chain, such as bottle reuse programs or collaborative recycling initiatives.
