Certified Sustainable Winegrowing

Hello wine connoisseurs,

This week I am going to write about sustainability. Sustainability means meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs including natural, social and economic resources.

According to Sustainable Wine Growing Ontario definition

"Ontario’s VQA wine and grape industry is inherently connected to the environment. Growers and winemakers rely on the natural resources our planet provides, and are mindful of the impact their businesses have on our world. Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario Certified wineries and vineyards are caretakers of the land, good community partners, climate action leaders, and invested in social equity and diversity. Practicing environmentally-responsible and sustainable approaches in our vineyards and wineries is our way to ensure that the land we farm, the communities we live in, and our businesses remain healthy and viable for future generations."

To become a Certified Sustainable Winery in Ontario, you need to adopt hundreds of initiatives including water, energy use, packaging, relationships with neighbours, a respectful workplace for all employees. There are about 600 aspects of your business that you are questioned for and need to adopt sustainable practices. At Icellars it took 6 years for us to adhere all these and finally both our winery and vineyard was Certified Suatainable in 2021 after a 6 hours audit with a 3rd party auditor. We also need to be audited every year to keep our certificate.

Icellars has even gone further in some practices that like rain water use, geothermal energy in wine processing that a few  have implemented in the world. Our next target is to be one of the few Certified Organic, Net Energy Zero and Zero Carbon Emission winery in the world.

Please note that this program is not mandatory for any winery and you do not get any kind of special treatment, tax incentive or public money to do this.  There are currently 24 wineries in Ontario that have received this very important certification for our common future and we are proud to be among our distinctful piers. 

Cheers.
Adnan Icel
Owner&Winemaker