INDUSTRY
SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
The Canadian wine industry is entirely dependent on natural resources for its solar energy, climate, water, soils and the successful integration of all these elements. Protection and enhancement of these natural assets through sustainable practices are crucial to our future.
The goals of sustainability include a desire to improve environmental performance, improve the quality of wine growing and winemaking in an environmentally responsive manner, provide information to consumers and add value to our industry and our community.
Wine Growers Canada (WGC) supports environmental sustainability programs for both vineyard and winery operations. Our Environmental Sustainability Principles were developed in cooperation with FIVS and have been adopted by the World Wine Trade Group. These principles ensure flexibility in achieving environmental sustainability objectives, while preserving the programs of individual wineries and providing an ability to achieve success within a company’s particular operating environment.
WGC Environmental Sustainability Principles (PDF 64KB)
Case Studies in Sustainability
WGC’s members are proud to be involved in a range of sustainable practices, from building LEED-certified wine sampling rooms and cellars, to embracing biodynamic viniculture and protecting indigenous plants and animals. Both our winery members and our associate members (who are involved in the broader wine supply chain in Canada) are committed to WGC Sustainability Practices. To highlight the active engagement of our membership, we have put together a number of case studies, reflective of their efforts to protect our natural environment.
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards (British Columbia)
Commitment to Excellent Stewardship Tinhorn Creek was founded in 1993 by a few like-minded individuals, or as current Chairman and Co-proprietor Kenn Oldfield says, “friends who became family”. The concept of treating employees like family is deeply embedded in Tinhorn Creek’s philosophy – part of the reason they seek to be good stewards, so that they can continue to support job retention and...
TricorBraun WinePak (Associate Member)
Innovating for lower CO2 emissions TricorBraun WinePak is the largest wine glass distributor in North America and a major provider of bottles to the wine industry. Committed to being at the forefront of the industry, the company set about offering clients new lightweight wine bottles in 2006, in the form of the Ardagh Glass Eco Series. Ardagh Glass Eco Bottles, before being shipped to wineries...
Summerhill Pyramid Winery (British Columbia)
Organic wines for a true expression of terroir Regarded as Canada’s most visited winery, Summerhill Pyramid Winery takes social responsibility to the surrounding community and the environment to the next level. Certified organic in 2007, Summerhill is now the largest producer of certified organic wines in Canada, and in 2012, received its Demeter Biodynamic certification. Operated by the Cipes...
Southbrook Vineyards (Ontario)
Third-generation farmer, Bill Redelmeier, and his wife Marilyn, founded Southbrook Vineyards in Niagara-on-the-Lake in 2005, following more than twenty years of local growing experience.
L’Acadie Vineyards (Nova Scotia)
Equipped with a degree in Bio-Resource (Agriculture) Engineering from University of British Columbia and over 25 years of experience working in wineries across Canada, the USA and Australia, Bruce Ewert established L’Acadie in 2004.
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