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Sustainable red wine has been making a name for itself in the world of wine. Having sustainable red wine types on your menu can help with guest retention and improve customer experience. Whether you’re hosting brunch or celebrating National Red Wine Day, there’s no bad time for some sustainable red wine.
Read on through this BinWise blog to learn all about sustainable red wine. From the general benefits of drinking wine to the benefits of red wine produced sustainably to the production process, that could involve freezing wine, we’ve got you covered to learn more about enjoying sustainable red wine.
What Is Sustainable Red Wine?
So, what is sustainable red wine? Sustainable red wine is a red wine that is produced in a sustainable fashion. Sustainable vineyards and wineries use practices that have as little impact on the environment as possible. They also work to keep the soil they’re working in fertile. That helps them to be ready for future years, both for their winery and whatever may come next.
Not all red wine that is produced with care for the world falls under the specific category of sustainable. There are other types of wine that share traits with sustainable red wine. These four types of wine production are the most typical in terms of sustainability.
4. Organic Wine
Organic wine often gets mixed up with sustainable wine because they share many qualities. In organic wine production, similar methods are used but the focus is on making wine that doesn’t contain any chemicals or inorganic ingredients.
3. Carbon-Neutral Wineries
Carbon-neutral wineries are a unique space in the world of sustainable wine. They have sustainable practices, which are focused on reducing or eliminating carbon emissions.
2. Vegan Red Wine
Vegan red wine is often grouped in with organic wine. It’s a similar type of wine, with the specific quality of having no animal products used in production.
1. Sustainably Produced Red Wine
Sustainably produced red wine is precisely what winemakers are talking about when they mention sustainable wineries. It’s produced with care for the environment, to keep the land safe and fertile for future generations.
Sustainability In Red Wine Production
Those four types of wine production all have elements of sustainability, even if they aren’t specifically “sustainable.” They’re all made with care for the land, as well as the people who are affected by the wine in any way. When wineries want to lean into sustainability, in a general or specific sense, there are a few ways to go about the process.
These upcoming four aspects of sustainability are a mix of requirements and recommendations for sustainable winemakers. Some of them are designed for larger winemakers and established wineries. Others are advice for those looking to start in the production of sustainable red wine.
4. Certifications In Sustainable Wine Production
Winemakers and wineries can become certified in sustainable wine production by proving they are using sustainable practices. This certification changes from state to state. It is the main way to ensure customers that your wine is sustainable.
3. Environmental Regulations
Environmental regulations tend to go hand-in-hand with the certification of sustainably produced wine. There are more and more environmental regulations being put in place, and some are specific for farming and agriculture purposes. These are the ones to look out for in your location for wine production.
2. Sustainable Wine Production Kits
If you’re looking into becoming a winemaker in any capacity, a sustainable wine production kit is a good place to start. It gives you the tools and tips you need to learn the process of sustainable wine production.
1. Economics of Sustainability In Red Wine Production
As the world turns more attention to our climate troubles, there are economic benefits of being more sustainable. In the world of wine, these benefits come from two sources. One is the amount of people who are looking for sustainable wine. The other is the possibility of financial support and grants in sustainable agriculture endeavors.
Searching for Sustainable Red Wine
From a consumer perspective, searching for sustainable red wine can be a fun adventure. You can search through your local liquor stores or specialty wine shops. You can also dig into online sources, to either ship wine or buy it through local distributors.
These four ways of searching for sustainable red wine are some of the most likely to get you the best results. A few of these are perfect as their own isolated practices. Others work well paired with the rest. Overall, when it comes to finding sustainable red wine, an extensive search yields the best wine varieties to try.
4. Look Out for Labels
The start of your search for sustainable red wine begins with the labels of the wine you buy. Keep an eye out for a seal of approval from a rating agency. In California, for example, the Regenerative Organic Certified and California Certified Organic (CCOF) seal is the thing to seek out.
3. Organize a Sustainable Wine Tasting
Organizing a sustainable wine tasting party is a great way to get a feel for what is available. You can order a kit, like this U.S. Sustainable Winegrowing Summit kit, to get a taste of a few different options.
2. Use Social Media Searches
Social media has become one of the best places to find information and available options for niche areas of interest. This applies to sustainable red wine, with a growing number of wineries and wine enthusiasts sharing their stories on social media. Check out your preferred platforms for sustainable wine hashtags, and start taking in the information available whenever you scroll.
1. Seek Out Wineries Over Specific Wine
When you’re first starting out with trying wine in general, the common practice is to try a few different varieties of wine. When you’re seeking sustainable wine, that practice changes. The best thing to do is find wineries that produce sustainable wine. From there you can explore their wine and learn more about sustainable wine production from their winemaker or sommelier.
"Key Takeaway: Sustainable red wine is produced with care for the environment, to keep the land safe and fertile for future generations."
Frequently Asked Questions About Red Wine and Sustainability
Our answers to these frequently asked questions about sustainable red wine and wine production will help you learn more about environmental practices. Whatever your knowledge is of the wine industry and wine around the world was up to this point, it’s about to expand. After this, check out your favorite wineries to see how sustainable they are.
What Is a Sustainable Wine?
Sustainable wine is a wine that is produced in a vineyard that uses sustainable practices all throughout the wine production process. Those practices include:
- Water and energy conservation
- Ecosystems and local wildlife preservation
Beyond those general practices, the goal of sustainable vineyards is to make great wine with minimal impact on the environment.
Is Sustainable Wine the Same as Organic?
Sustainable wine and organic wine are often similar, but they are technically different. Sustainable wine production is focused on the health of the vineyard and the environment around it.
Organic wine production is focused on what goes into the wine. It’s all about avoiding synthetic chemicals and pesticides in the vineyard. Organic vineyards do share that general goal with sustainable vineyards. With specifically organic vineyards, however, the process stops there.
What Is the Most Sustainable Wine Closure?
The most sustainable type of wine closure is natural cork. It is renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable. Natural cork has been used as the standard wine closure for a long time. In terms of sustainability, the only real rival these days is canned wines. With canned wine, sustainability comes into play because you can recycle it all when you’ve finished your wine.
What Is Climate Neutral Wine?
Climate neutral wine is a wine that was made with as little of an environmental impact as possible. Wineries make these changes and aim for climate neutrality by:
- Using wind-powered energy
- Reducing or eliminating chemical sprays
- Making use of sustainable packaging solutions
- Purchasing carbon credits from nonprofits
These practices make the production of wine in these spaces more sustainable. These wineries are often also places that focus on organic or vegan wine.
Red Wine and Sustainability: Sourced for Sustainable Cheer!
Seeking out sustainable red wine is a project for wine lovers, wine connoisseurs, and wine industry workers alike. For industry folks, searching for sustainable red wine has an impact within the importance of sustainability. Restaurant sustainability can be boosted with the inclusion of sustainable wine on a sustainable menu.
If you’re looking to expand your wine list and focus on sustainability, reach out to BinWise and BlueCart. The BinWise Pro beverage inventory program is designed to add new wines to your list with ease. BlueCart’s order management software simplifies your order management system.