The growing interest in sustainable wine has sparked attention among members of the industry, driving collective action towards more environmentally conscious viticulture. In the rolling hills of wine country, a revolution is quietly taking root. Brands are now more mindful of ecological impacts, promoting a shared responsibility towards the planet. Sustainable wine production represents more than creating exceptional vintages—it’s about nurturing the earth that nurtures our vines, fostering biodiversity that enhances our terroir, and ensuring that future generations can continue this time-honored craft. More and more, consumers are looking for bottles that align with their values, with sustainable winegrowing evolving in stride from a quiet movement into a driving force behind the wines of tomorrow.
At Bonterra, sustainability has been at the heart of our winemaking for decades. From organic farming to regenerative practices, we’re proud to be part of a movement that’s shaping the future of wine—one sip at a time.
What Makes a Wine Sustainable and Best for the Planet?
Sustainable winemaking weaves together traditional wisdom and innovative practices, creating a tapestry of methods that honors both the land and the wine. This holistic approach begins in the vineyard and extends through every aspect of wine production, from soil to cellar to bottle.
In the Vineyard: Where Sustainability Takes Root
Organic and regenerative farming approaches play pivotal roles in sustainable wine practices, minimizing harmful chemicals and fostering thriving ecosystems. Sustainable vineyards treat soil as a complex biome, elevating it far above the inert growing mediums of the past. At Bonterra, this means embracing practices that enhance rather than deplete our natural resources:
- Water Stewardship: Knowing water is a valuable natural resource that becomes even more critical in a warming climate, we use an innovative water regeneration system that filters thousands of gallons of wastewater at a time. Our partnership with BioFiltro, whose BIDA® System harnesses the power of worms and microbes, naturally filters winery wastewater, transforming what was once considered waste into a resource that enriches our soils. Why this matters: Since installing the system in 2016, we’ve seen a 45% reduction in energy used for wastewater treatment, illustrating economic benefits and a positive impact on the environment. In 2023, our Biofiltro system cleaned 9,629,325 gallons of water- enough to fill 14.5 Olympic-sized pools!
- Water Conservation: Our precision irrigation system delivers exactly what vines need, when they need it, while preserving precious water resources. Through soil moisture probes and predictive models, we anticipate vine stress well before visible symptoms appear, enabling precise irrigation to reduce our water usage. Why this matters: With water scarcity becoming increasingly critical in wine regions worldwide, these innovations have reduced our water consumption while improving grape quality, in both white wine and red wines. In a recent year, our Estate wines used 35% less water per bottle than the global average.
- Cover Cropping: Our vineyards maintain wildlife corridors and beneficial insect habitats that create natural balance. Additionally, cover crops not only support soil water retention, they can play a crucial role in naturally repelling certain vineyard pests, attracting beneficial pollinators, enhancing soil nutrients, and more. Why this matters: Each species of cover crops plays a crucial role – for example, legumes provide natural nitrogen fertilization, reducing the need for synthetic inputs while aromatic herbs like lavender and thyme naturally repel harmful insects while attracting beneficial pollinators. Our vineyard teams on the ground understand the unique needs of each vineyard site, and tailor cover crops accordingly.
- Organic Farming: By skipping harmful synthetic pesticides and fertilizers in favor of natural solutions, we steward both the environment and wine quality. Our commitment to organic and regenerative practices means embracing techniques that actively improve soil health. Why this matters: Studies have shown that organically farmed vineyards encompass higher levels of soil biodiversity, which contributes to grape flavor development in the resulting wines. Additionally, organic practices have been shown to help vineyards better withstand climate extremes, ensuring more consistent quality across challenging vintages.
Fun fact: in our organic vineyards, sheep eat weeds, reducing dependence on tractors and saving us 2,000+ gallons of diesel use annually.
Beyond the Vineyard: Growing Impact
True sustainability extends well beyond farming practices to encompass every aspect of wine production:
- Worker Welfare: 100% of our workers, including farm workers, are paid a living wage.
- Energy Efficiency: At Bonterra, we’ve run our organic winery entirely on green energy since 1999, long before clean power was a recognized buzzword. Solar arrays, energy-efficient equipment, and continuous evaluation of every step of the winemaking journey contribute to meaningfully reducing our carbon footprint.
- Waste Reduction: TRUE Zero Waste Certified since 2014, we recycle extensively and find creative uses for byproducts, transforming waste into valuable resources. For example, we compost all vine cuttings and other winemaking byproducts such as grape pomace, creating nutritious compost for re-use in a beneficial, circular style.
- Packaging Innovation: We’re constantly exploring materials with reduced environmental impact, from lighter-weight bottles and better shipping boxes, to alternative packaging options that maintain wine quality while improving overall impact and cutting emissions.
- Biodiversity: What you leave untouched allows for so much more to flourish. At our Mendocino County ranches, 68% of Bonterra land is unplanted, allowing native habitats to thrive, promoting biodiversity.
- Advocacy: To create lasting change, sustainable practices include advocating for climate-smart policies. At Bonterra, we raise our voice for advances in organic, regenerative agriculture and responsible business practices through meetings with national and local lawmakers, and local grassroots initiatives.
Key Certifications for Sustainable Wine
As you seek wines that align with your environmental values, certifications provide guidance and accountability. Each tells its own story of commitment to sustainability:
California Leadership
California stands at the forefront of sustainable winegrowing with several respected certifications:
- California Certified Sustainable Winegrowing (CCSW): A comprehensive program upholding environmentally sound practices across vineyard and winery operations.
- CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers): One of the oldest and largest organic certification organizations, ensuring strict adherence to organic farming principles.
Global Standards of Excellence
- USDA Organic: The federal standard for organic farming practices, ensuring wines are produced without disallowed synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Why it matters: Beyond eliminating harmful synthetics, organic certification requires a three-year transition period during which soil health is restored, leading to balanced wines that better express their terroir. Rigorous audits build assurance and confidence practices are being followed, for consumer confidence and system accountability.
- Regenerative Organic CertifiedⓇ: An emerging standard that builds on a baseline of organic certification and promotes practices that actively improve soil health and biodiversity, along with social fairness and animal welfare components. Why it matters: This certification ensures producers are looking at the vineyard holistically, in tune with nature and their surrounding communities. . Additionally, regenerative practices have been shown to boost soil organic carbon while increasing the presence of beneficial microorganisms that contribute to wine complexity.
- B Corp Certification: Validating companies that meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance. Why it matters: B Corps must meet high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency, and commit to continued improvement. Long dedicated to responsible business practices and continuously evolving our business and social impact, Bonterra has been a Certified B Corp for 10 years, and was one of the first wineries certified.
Regions Leading the Sustainable Wine Movement
While California, notably Mendocino County, where Bonterra is based, demonstrates leadership for sustainable winegrowing in the United States, other regions worldwide are making remarkable strides:
New Zealand: A Model of National Commitment
New Zealand’s wine industry has set ambitious goals, with a significant portion of vineyard area certified sustainable under their national program. Their comprehensive approach includes:
- Water conservation initiatives
- Biodiversity preservation
- Carbon reduction strategies
- Industry-wide sustainability certification
Bordeaux’s Bold Vision
France’s most famous wine region is transforming itself through:
- Ambitious goals to eliminate harmful pesticides
- Implementation of organic and biodynamic practices
- Investment in research for climate adaptation
- Development of disease-resistant grape varieties
Champagne’s Climate Response
The prestigious Champagne region has become a leader in:
- Reducing carbon emissions
- Implementing sustainable vineyard practices
- Preserving traditional methods while embracing innovation
- Setting industry standards for sustainable packaging
Chile’s Natural Advantages
Chile has emerged as a leader in sustainable wine production, leveraging:
- Natural geographic barriers that reduce pest pressure
- Ideal climate conditions for organic farming
- Strong national commitment to sustainability
- Growing number of certified organic vineyards
Why Sustainable Wine Matters
The impact of sustainable winemaking ripples far beyond vineyard boundaries, creating positive change across multiple dimensions including crucial social welfare and impact pillars:
Social Impact
- Worker Welfare: Fair labor practices and safe working conditions
- Community Support: Investment in local communities and economies
- Educational Initiatives: Sharing knowledge and best practices across the industry
- Environmental Justice: Positive impacts from environmental practices benefit communities, including those most vulnerable to effects of the climate crisis
Cultural Preservation: Maintaining traditional winemaking methods while embracing sustainable innovations
Health and Quality Benefits
- Reduced Exposure: Vineyard workers and communities face less harm as synthetic materials are reduced or eliminated. Organic certifications including those at Bonterra disallow any harmful synthetics, something we’re incredibly proud of.
- Enhanced Wine Quality: Living soils and balanced ecosystems can produce more complex, terroir-driven wines.
- Minimal Additives: Focus on winemaking processes that require fewer interventions.
- Transparent Production: Clear documentation of farming and production practices.
Environmental Benefits
- Climate Resilience: Sustainable practices help vineyards adapt to a changing climate. Why it matters: Sustainable vineyards may be more resistant to extreme weather events, including drought, crucial as climate change threatens traditional wine regions. Through practices like cover cropping and reduced tillage, vineyards increase soil organic matter and water holding capacity, building resilience with each beneficial practice.
- Biodiversity & Natural Pest Protection: Creating habitats for beneficial insects, birds, and other wildlife helps maintain natural balance. Why it matters: Sustainable vineyards support beneficial insects and animals that naturally control pest populations, reducing or eliminating the need for synthetic interventions.
- Soil Health: Building living soils that hold carbon and support healthy ecosystems. Why it matters: Healthy vineyard soils contain thousands of microorganisms – each playing a role in nutrient cycling and grape flavor development. Sustainable soil management, especially with compost, has been shown to increase organic matter content and improve water retention, reducing irrigation needs.
- Water Conservation: Developing innovative solutions for water management in an increasingly water-stressed world. Why it matters: Advanced irrigation systems in sustainable vineyards reduce water usage while maintaining or improving grape quality. This is crucial as many wine regions face increasing water scarcity.
How to Identify Sustainable Wines When Shopping
When seeking sustainable wines, consider these key factors:
- Look for relevant certifications on labels
- Research producers’ environmental commitments
- Support wineries that demonstrate transparent practices
- Choose wines from regions known for sustainability leadership
- Consider the entire lifecycle, including packaging and transportation
Looking Forward: The Future of Sustainable Wine
As we look to the future, wine stands at a crucial intersection of tradition and innovation. The climate crisis presents unprecedented challenges and opportunities for positive transformation. At Bonterra, we believe that every bottle of wine tells a story—not just of its origin and craftsmanship but of its impact on the world.
Through organic, regenerative farming and TRUE Zero Waste Certified practices, innovative solutions like our BioFiltro system for wastewater regeneration, and a deep commitment to sustainability, we’re working to ensure that our story is one of positive change and environmental stewardship that truly makes a difference.
When you choose Bonterra, you become a part of this story–of doing good while choosing better. Consider joining our wine club, starting with certified organically farmed options that demonstrate how environmental stewardship enhances so much more than just your next sip. Together we can grow a community dedicated to sustainability and quality!
Order wine online and explore our commitments to organic and sustainable winemaking.
