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 4 Principles. There are many ways wineries can show and express their commitments. We’ve found these 12 the most common, and will use them to tell you the stories of ConsciousWineries.

Biodiversity

(The Wild Factor!) Nature’s diversity incorporated into the property supports a vitalized immune system for the farm.

Natural Winemaking

Allowing the ‘terroir’ or place to be mirrored thru the finished product is assisted by using the already-present yeasts from the vineyard and winery for fermentation. Other additives  used and processes like reverse osmosis are avoided.

Polyculture

Monoculture (one-crop culture) is not natural to start with so creating a polyculture can be a key component of diversity that supports the stability that leads to a healthy, strong, sustainable environment.

Good Worker Policy

Living wage paid to all workers; health benefits provided; vineyard workers get vacation after harvest and then have jobs to return to.

Energy Conservation

Solar, biodiesel, electric powered vehicles, … reduce, reuse, recycle; minimizing one’s footprint within the property, and it’s pull on resources outside of it.

Water Conservation

Ponds, water capture, dry farming, recycling waste water, erosion control.

Packaging & Supply Footprint

Bottles, boxes, closures, labels, barrels; energy used to create them and where they come from; recycling, reducing, reusing.

Community Engagement

Giving to your neighbors, neighborhood and the greater community.

Family Farmed

When the ones who are in relationship with the vines and the land also live on it, and even grow some of their food on it, there’s something good about that.

Animals on the Farm

Both in the vineyard and as part of the property… Eating weeds, fertilizing the soil, bringing their special vitality, and supporting biodiversity.

Certifications

Those who have traveled the path to become certified deserve to be acknowledged for it: CCOF, Oregon Tilth, LIVE, Demeter, Salmon Safe, LEED.

Regenerative Farming Practices

Thru observation and relationship a farmer discovers the natural assets of their farm which leads to an organic flow of working the farm (what to grow, where to grow it, and how much to grow). This allows choices that do not go past the farm’s lmiits in supporting it’s on-going health and sustainability. Practices include composting, native cover crops, …

And all of these lead to a palpable vitality!