Wine GB has launched a new certification mark for English wine producers striving for environmental sustainability 

Picture Credit: Denbies Vineyard in Dorking, Surrey by Helen Dixon

How we shop has changed dramatically over the past few years and sustainability has become increasingly more important to consumers.  

Buying English wine in itself gets a big sustainability tick as it helps the local economy and has less of an impact on our carbon footprint than buying an imported wine. But how do you know if the way in which these wines are made is in the eco-friendliest way possible?

Recognising that the wine industry needs to work towards becoming more sustainable, Wine GB has launched an accredited sustainability scheme to encourage wine producers to minimise their impact on the environment and maximise their contribution to environmental sustainability and biodiversity.

The scheme looks at everything from maintaining and improving soil health and biodiversity to reducing the use of pesticides within the vineyard and the environmental impact of packaging.

The Sustainable Wines of Great Britain certification mark may only be used on the labels of bottles of wine made in a winery which has been approved by WineGB following a Sustainability Scheme audit.

Vineyards in Kent, Surrey and Sussex which have already joined the scheme include Albury Organic, Bee Tree, Bolney, Chilworth Manor, Denbies, Greyfriars, Gusbourne, Henners, High Clandon, Hush Heath, Nyetimber, Ridgeview, Roebuck, West Fisher and
and Yotes Court.

The certification mark should start appearing on scheme-accredited bottles of wine later this year.