Sustainable Wine Certifications

Bodegas de Argentina Sustainability Protocol

Developed in 2012, the Bodegas de Argentina Sustainability Protocol offers certifications to Argentine wineries and vineyards that have demonstrated total compliance with all their sustainability protocols.

Argentine Food, a Natural Choice

An official quality seal from the Argentine Ministry of Agriculture that highlights food products produced with high standards, sustainability, and high-quality, natural ingredients

VEG Argentina

The VEG Argentina seal was developed by LIAF Control, an Argentine company that provides inspection and certification services to producers in the agro-industrial sector. The certificates issued by LIAF Control allow producers to sell their certified vegan products differently in the domestic market and export them to the United States, the European Union (EU), Chile, Switzerland and Saudi Arabia, among other countries.

Association of Austrian Traditional Wine Estates (OTW)

A community of wine estates that was founded in 1991 for the purpose of classifying Austrian vineyard sites and is committed to binding quality standards.

Chilean Wine Sustainability Code

Framework for sustainability in vineyard, production, and social practices in Chile.

Biodyvin

A trademarked symbol, primarily in Europe, indicating that a manufacturer has paid a financial contribution to a national packaging recovery organization, not necessarily that the packaging is recyclable or made from recycled materials.

European Union Organic Farming

Guarantees consumers that the wine contains at least 95% of grapes that have been grown according to the rules of organic farming. The fruits can't contain any trace of GMO.

Green Dot

A trademarked symbol, primarily in Europe, indicating that a manufacturer has paid a financial contribution to a national packaging recovery organization, not necessarily that the packaging is recyclable or made from recycled materials.

Agriculture Biologique – French Ministry of Agriculture & Food (L’Agence Bio)

Seeing this little green logo on a bottle guarantees consumers that the wine contains at least 95% of grapes that have been grown according to the rules of organic farming. The fruits can't contain any trace of GMO.

Bureau Veritas (BV)

Certifies sustainable practices across industries to improve performance and compliance.

Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE)

Created in 2012 by the French government following the Grenelle Environment Forum, the HVE is an environmental certification for farms. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, it is a guarantee that the agricultural practices of a farm preserve the natural ecosystem and minimize pressure on the environment (soil, water, biodiversity, etc.).

Healthy Wines Association (Vins SAINS)

Association of winemakers who manage their entire operation using organic farming practices, no additives in winemaking, and no added sulfites.

Living Soils

Promotes regenerative farming to improve soil and biodiversity.

Natural Wine Association (AVN)

Wine that is produced from organic or biodynamically grown grapes, certified or labeled and complies with the AVN winemaking specifications.

Nature & Progres

A strict, private French organic certification created in 1964 that goes beyond EU organic standards to promote ecological, social, and ethical wine production. It requires organic grapes, hand-picking, wild yeast fermentation, and bans most additives, limiting sulfites to roughly half of EU-allowed levels.

Terra Vitis

A renowned French environmental certification for sustainable viticulture, founded in 1998. It ensures, through independent annual audits, that winegrowers respect nature, people, and produce quality wine, covering everything from soil management to social responsibility.

Vin Methode Nature

In March 2020, France introduced a new, official, natural wine distinction and label. Must be produced from hand-picked grapes from certified organic vines and made exclusively with indigenous yeast. The category’s production specifications prohibit the use of inputs and winemaking techniques qualified as “brutal,” such as cross-flow filtration, flash pasteurization, thermovinification and reverse osmosis. When it comes to the presence of sulfites, up to 30 mg/l of total H2SO4 is allowed in all types of wine.

1% for the Planet

Business members give at least 1% of their annual sales directly to approved environmental partners. Members can support approved environmental partners by donating the equivalent of 1% of sales through a combination of monetary, in-kind and approved promotional expenses.

BeVeg Certified

The only Vegan Certifier with an Accredited Standard that elaborates on the difference between vegan certified and vegan friendly label claims. BeVeg Vegan certified products guarantee that no animal ingredients or animal by-products are used in the product during the manufacturing process and no animal testing of the products. This is warranted with independent third-party audits. The BeVeg vegan certification program is gold standard for global vegan certification, with worldwide trademark representation

Certified B Corporation

For certification, the winery must receive a minimum score of 80 from an assessment of its social and environmental performance, integrate B Corp commitments to stakeholders into company governing documents, and pay an annual fee based on annual sales. Companies must re-certify every three years to retain B Corporation status.

Climate Neutral Certified

A third party, voluntary label indicating a company has measured, offset, and reduced its greenhouse gas emissions. Managed by the Change Climate Project, it signifies a brand is taking responsibility for its carbon footprint and funding projects to eliminate future emissions, rather than just offsetting past ones.

ClimatePartner Certification

Certification for carbon footprint measurement, reduction, and offsetting.

Demeter Certified Biodynamic

Strictly follows the organic winemaking guidelines of each country before adding its own rules on top of them. Inspired by the philosopher and esoterist Rudolf Steiner, the Demeter label prohibits the use of chemical additives, promotes regular soil maintenance using natural preparations, limits the addition of sulphites to 70 mg/L... 90% of the grapes used to produce a wine must follow the Demeter regulations if an estate wants to get the organization's label. The remaining 10% can come from AB-labeled or USDA Organic-labeled fruits.

Ecocert

Control agency organization founded in 1991 by William Vidal and a collective of independent agronomics engineers. The organization has its own guidelines, approved by the French government. It can intervene in many different industries, such as the food industry, cosmetics and wine. On top of certifying and promoting organic products throughout the world, Ecocert also fights for the preservation of soils, energy conservation and better work conditions for employees. The Ecocert group can certify a business and approve requests for more than 150 different labels, including Biodyvin, Demeter and Agriculture Biologique Europe.

Fair for Life

Certification allows your products coming from Fair Trade to be commercialized worldwide. The labelling by an independent certification body like Ecocert, enables to display the logo Fair For Life on the products when 80% of its raw materials come from Fair Trade.

FSC Certified (Forest Stewardship Council)

A globally recognized, voluntary system ensuring wood, paper, and forest products come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits. Certification helps companies meet consumer demand for sustainable practices.

International Wineries for Climate Action

Certified members evaluate the consistency of a winery’s carbon footprint, its performance related to GHG emissions reduction efforts in line with the science-based medium and long-term targets (becoming Net Zero by no later than 2050), and the winery’s commitment to implementing renewable energy at the winery.

ISO 45001

Global standard for occupational health and safety management.

Primum Familiae Vini (PFV)

Latin for "First Families of Wine", the PFV is an association of family-owned wineries with a membership limited to twelve families.

Current members VWD represents - Maison Joseph Drouhin, Symington Family Estates, and Vega Sicilia.

SAI 8000

Promotes ethical labor practices and human rights compliance.

Equalitas

Equalitas is a voluntary, certifiable standard designed to promote a shared and practical vision of sustainability in the wine sector, encompassing environmental, social, and economic dimensions. Equalitas applies to the entire wine supply chain — from grape growers to processors and bottlers.

There are 4 different certifications - Sustainable Winery, Sustainable Wine, Sustainable Wine Territory, and Environmental-Ethical-Economic.

Federazione Vignaioli Italiana Indipendenti (FIVI)

FIVI's main activities are union-based and representative. It has more than 1,600 members from all over Italy. The logo placed on bottles is reserved for the exclusive use of FIVI members.

National Quality System for Integrated Production (SQNPI)

Italian integrated production certification minimizing synthetic inputs.

Suolo e Salute

Italy’s Organic certification body.

VALORITALIA

Italian certifier for organic, sustainable agriculture and product authenticity.

VIVA

Italian program measuring and improving wine’s environmental and social footprint.

New Zealand Sustainable Winegrowing

Launched in 1995 as a program based on continuous improvement and adherence to standards that ensures members meet the guidelines for sustainability practices in the vineyard and winery. Today, 98% of New Zealand’s vineyard producing area is SWNZ certified. Over 90% of the wine produced in New Zealand is processed in SWNZ certified facilities. SWNZ certifies all parts of the production chain including vineyards, wineries, bottling facilities, and brands.

Wine made from grapes grown in 100% SWNZ-certified vineyards and produced in 100% SWNZ-certified winemaking facilities can display the SWNZ logo on the bottle. This is your guarantee of sustainable production from grape to glass.

Fair Trade Certified

A rigorous, third-party certification ensuring products meet strict environmental, economic, and social standards, such as safe working conditions, fair wages, and community development funds

Wines of Portugal

Created in 2010, the Vinhos de Portugal (Wines of Portugal) brand incorporates the main values and differentiating characteristics of Portuguese wines, and is the result of a collective effort to see the unquestionable quality of these wines recognized internationally.

ASOCIACION VITICULTURA REGENERATIVA

Promotes carbon-focused regenerative viticulture in Spain.

Consejo Regulador de la Rioja

The Qualified Designation of Origin Rioja (hereinafter QDO) works to promote and control the quality of the protected wines and to defend the interests of the sector in the region.

Wineries for Climate Protection (WfCP)

Wineries for Climate Protection (WfCP) is a specialized certification scheme, primarily in Spain, focusing on reducing greenhouse gases, improving water management, reducing waste, and increasing energy efficiency. Developed by the Spanish Wine Federation (FEV), it is the first specific sustainability certification for the wine sector, often evolving into "Sustainable Wineries for Climate Protection" (SWfCP) to include social, economic, and governance criteria.

CCOF Certified – California Certified Organic Farmers – USA, CA

The presence of the CCOF seal on a product guarantees food has been grown and produced according to federal USDA standards.

Certified California Sustainable – USA, CA

Introduced in 2010, Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing (CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE) is administered by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA), a leader in promoting sustainable winegrowing practices within the California wine industry. CSWA is a nonprofit organization created in 2003 by Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers.

LIVE Certified Sustainable – Low Input Viticulture & Enology – USA, OR

Supports environmentally and socially responsible winegrowing through third-party certification and education. They are rooted in the Pacific Northwest and are internationally accredited.

Lodi Rules - Certified Green Sustainable Winegrowing – USA, CA

Lodi Rules, the short name for the Lodi Winegrape Commission's "Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing", a set of guidelines used by winegrowers throughout the Lodi winegrowing region of California to ensure that their products are grown in a sustainable manner. The rules are intended to lead to quantifiable improvements in the health of the adjacent ecosystem as well as the wine quality. Products grown in accordance with the rules are certified by the non-profit organization Protected Harvest.

Napa Green Certified – USA, CA

A comprehensive sustainability certification program for vineyards and wineries in the Napa Valley. Soil-to-bottle stewardship includes protecting and restoring the Napa River watershed, saving energy and water, reducing waste and carbon footprint, and being conscientious employers and good neighbors.

New York Sustainable Winegrowing – USA, NY

A voluntary third-party certification that verifies the vineyards are using the best practices to ensure environmental, social, and economic sustainability of New York Wine.

Regenerative Organic Certified - USA

A high-bar agricultural certification for food, fiber, and personal care ingredients that goes beyond USDA Organic. It focuses on three core pillars: improving soil health, ensuring high pasture-based animal welfare, and providing social fairness for farm workers. Overseen by the Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA), it requires compliance with USDA Organic standards as a baseline.

Salmon Safe Certified – USA, OR

One of the nation’s leading ecolabels with more than 95,000 acres of farm and urban lands certified in Oregon, Washington, California and British Columbia. Through their peer-reviewed certification and accreditation program, they implement farming practices and developments that protect water quality, maintain watershed health and restore habitat.

SIP Certified – Sustainability in Practice - USA

A rigorous, sustainable vineyard and winery certification with strict, non-negotiable requirements, committed to standards based on science and expert input, independent verification, transparency, and absence of conflict of interest.

Sonoma County Sustainable – USA, CA

Launched with the 2017 vintage, these wines have been certified to have been made from at least 85% certified sustainable wine grapes in Sonoma.

TRUE Zero Waste Certification - USA

Certification program dedicated to measuring, improving and recognizing zero waste performance.

USDA Organic (Green Label) - USA

100% Organic Wine

Grapes have been grown in accordance with the organic standards established by the USDA National Organic Program (NOP). Wine has been produced and bottled in a certified organic facility. Wine contains No Added Sulfites (NSA). USDA ORGANIC Logo displayed on bottle.

USDA Organic (Orange Label) - USA

Made with 100% Organic Grapes

Grapes have been grown in accordance with the organic standards established by the USDA National Organic Program (NOP). Wine has been produced and bottled in a certified organic facility. May contain added sulfites up to 100ppm. They are called “Organic Wine” in all countries outside the United States.

These wines DO NOT display the USDA ORGANIC logo, however they MAY display the Certifier’s Logo of the state or country in which it was produced.

USDA Organic (Purple Label) - USA

Made with Organic Ingredients

Wine contains certified organic grapes. May put “Ingredients: Organic Grapes” on the back label. These wines have more than 100ppm Sulfites.

These wines DO NOT display the USDA ORGANIC logo, nor the certifier’s logo.

Vegan

Certified wines free from animal byproducts.

Sustainably Farmed

Resource-efficient farming focused on water and energy conservation.

Organic

Grapes grown and processed without synthetic chemicals.

Carbon Neutral

No net carbon emissions—achieved via reduction and offsetting (e.g., tree planting).

No Sulfites Added

(NSA) wine is produced without synthetic sulfur dioxide, relying on organic farming and clean winemaking to manage stability. While trace sulfites occur naturally during fermentation, these wines are ideal for those with sensitivities.

Bee Friendly Farming Certified

Operating in the US and Australia, BFF provides science-based guidelines for farmers, growers, and land managers to promote pollinator health through diverse forage, clean water, nesting habitats, and Integrated Pest Management.