Net Zero Energy etc.

Hello Friends,

It has been a while since I wrote e-mails. This doesn't mean we were hibernated for the winter. There is always something to do at a winery year long. In winter months we mostly work in the cellar doing barrel rackings, blendings, cleaning etc. But this fall and winter have been especially busy for me as I was designing and getting approvals for Icellars' biggest ever undertaking; creating a Certified Organic, Certified Sustainable, Certified Regenerative and Net Energy Zero winery by the summer of 2023. 

In September 2022, we succesfully past our pre-certification audit by Ecocert Canada that will make all of Icellars 2023 and future wines Certified Organic. Just to give you a perspective, it is estimated that about 1% of 17,000 acres of Ontario vineyards is Certified Organic. So roughly we are adding 50 acres of our vineyard to already existing 170 acres of certified organic vineyards increasing it by 30%. Organic farming is not easy nor cheap in our climate, but it is the right thing to do to produce healthy products. We hope more Canadian vineyards will be farmed organicly as wine consumers will understand the benefits of drinking organic wines. My friend Bill Redelmeier of Southbrook Vineyards has written extensively about organic farming here.

Both our vineyard and winery has been Certified Sustainable since 2021. This is a very important undertaking that forces wineries to implement sustainable practices in many areas. There are about 24 wineries in Ontario that got this certificate.

ENVIRONMENT

Wineries and vineyards who carry certification are audited annually on use and conservation of water, reduction in waste and wastewater and implementation of energy efficiency programs, including the use of sustainable power sources. They are committed to preserving local vineyards for generations to come and are invested in land conservation and restoring natural habitats to ensure a healthy eco-system.

ECONOMY

Certified wineries must produce VQA wines, which are always locally crafted from 100% sustainably certified Ontario-grown grapes. While local wines inherently have a smaller carbon footprint for Ontarians, they also play a vital role in preserving local economies. Regional wines are an integral part of a community’s economic health and are naturally woven into their fabric.

COMMUNITY

Wineries and vineyards that are certified are good neighbours and promote diversity and social equity in the workplace. They are expected to cultivate positive relationships with their communities and be leaders in social responsibility. They also show a commitment to producing authentic regional wines, which are a cornerstone of local food cultures.

A third project we have been working is to make Icellars Winery Canada's first Net Zero Energy winery by May 2023. Net Zero Energy means the total amount of energy used by the building on an annual basis is equal to the amount of renewable energy created on the site.

Icellars is currently implementing a large rooftop solar PV system, a new geothermal heating&cooling system and a few other high precision farming investments. The total cost of the projects is close to one million dollars and Agrifood Canada will grant back about $432,000 of this cost per our grant agreement with the Government of Canada.

Starting next week I will go more in detail of these projects.

Stay well.
Adnan Icel
Owner&Winemaker