The Four Principles of ConsciousWine™
As a consumer, a wine lover, an eco-man or eco-woman who drinks wine, if you want to choose wines that
- Use no synthetic chemicals in the vineyards whatsoever,
- Utilize practices supporting the vitality of the land for our kids’ kids and beyond,
- Reflect the unique character and personality of the vineyard in their wines and
- Rock the house!
then read on, ’cause you’re in the right place!
The Practices of ConsciousWine
There are many practices that support vitalizing a farm and it’s surroundings for future generations. Minimizing resource use, staying clear of synthetics, and being respectful of the whole process of life sometimes gets taken too lightly.
With ConsciousWine, we’re about discovering vineyards and wineries who are in the driver’s seat with regards to sustainability. Making it fun and interesting is our goal as we keep you informed and educated with what’s up!
Below are some of the practices ConsciousWineries participate in. Throughout ConsciousWine we’ll explore the use of these practices to let you know which wineries are kicking it up a notch and update The ConsciousWine List™ to keep you connected with them. A winery does not have to do all 12 to be part of our program, although each winery must abide by The Four Principles. There are many ways wineries can show and express their commitments. We’ve found these 12 the most common.
- Biodiversity
- Monoculture is not natural to start with, so creating a polyculture is a key to supporting the stability that leads to a healthy environment.
- No-Nox (our ‘code name’ for non-inoculated fermentations)
- Using the already-present yeasts from the vineyard and winery for fermentation.
- Sustainable Building Materials
- Recycled wood, natural cooling system, LEED Certification.
- Sustainable Worker Policy
- Living wage paid to all workers; health benefits; vineyard workers get vacation after harvest and then have jobs to return to.
- Alternative Energy
- Solar, biodiesel, wind.
- Minimal Water Use
- Dry farming, recycling waste water, erosion control, ponds.
- Waste Management
- Carbon neutral, trash can half-empty (not always pushing the max).
- The Neighborhood
- It’s good that you’re not spraying, but what are your neighbors doing?
- Live on the Farm & Eat From It
- When the ones who are in relationship with the vines and the land also live on it and grow some of their food on it, there’s something good about that.
- Animals on the Farm
- Eating weeds, fertilizing the soil, supporting biodiversity.
- Certification
- CCOF, Oregon Tilth, LIVE, Demeter, Salmon Safe, LEED.
- Participation in Biodynamic® Farming Practices
- includes farming by the lunar cycles, Biodynamic preparations, seeing the farm as a self-regulating organism, composting, and more.
All of these leads to a palpable vitality!