The history of sustainability in agriculture is closely intertwined with the wine industry… it has been so for at least 20 years to this part. A OIV (International Organization of Wine and Vine) was a pioneer in this process, having launched in 2011 a document for calculating the carbon footprint of wine. In this regard, the CONSULT in 2014 tHe also left his mark when he determined and prepared the certification of what became known as the first wine in Portugal to obtain certification. PAS 2050: 2011 with the “Imagine” wine created at Herdade da Mingorra.
There are many other examples that link viticulture and sustainability in Portugal and abroad, namely in the so-called Countries of the New World, As the Argentina, Chile, New Zealand and the United States of America (USA). It is precisely from the United States that one of the first sustainability benchmarks for the sector developed (2003), and perhaps, at the time, the most well-known and popular one, the “California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance“. This framework has served as inspiration for many other national and regional frameworks, as happened with the PSVA (Sustainability Program for Wines of Alentejo) of responsibility Regional Alentejan Wine Commission, that since 2013 thas contributed to the positive differentiation of Alentejo wines both in Portugal and in other markets, particularly in the monopolies of northern Europe.
The creation of a specific national framework for the sector is the natural progression of this story. The presentation that took place on the day November 23, 2023, It arises as a response to the growing demands of international markets, with comprehensive national-level goals that are credible, simple, yet simultaneously accessible to all organizations in the national wine sector, regardless of their size and economic weight.
Second Frederico Falcão, President of VINIPORTUGAL,“this framework is extremely important for the sector, because sustainability certification is no longer a matter of distinguishing positioning, but rather a matter of access to markets.".
I believe that very soon some markets, especially the Nordic ones, but not only them, will start requiring sustainability certification. That is why it is essential that Portugal has a single, national framework promoted by the VINIPORTUGAL through various global markets, in order to ensure that our wines do not remain outside the various markets where they want to compete.
The framework was developed under the responsibility of Institute of Vine and Wine (IVV) with the support of CONSULT, In collaboration with various representative entities of the wine industry, such as producers, associations and companies.
The main objective of this framework is to promote the production of wine in a sustainable way, respecting the environment, valuing the final product and strengthening the role of local communities.
Existe um referencial de sustentabilidade para o setor vitivinícola Nacional produção de vinho de forma sustentável, respeitando o meio ambiente e valorizando o produto final e as comunidades locais. Para se obter a certificação é necessário percorrer cerca de 86 indicators, which can vary between applicable, non-applicable, KO and non-KO indicators (exclusion). Certification can be required by the various agents that produce and work with the transformation of grapes, namely, distilled spirits, wine vinegar and, of course, any type of wine, even those that do not have a designation of origin.
The indicators established by the framework include various areas, such as vineyard and soil management, water management, use of chemical products, conservation of biodiversity, waste management, among others. Each area is evaluated based on specific indicators that measure the producer’s performance in relation to these criteria.
Certification is voluntary and can be obtained by wine producers from all regions of Portugal. The certification is granted by an independent certification body, which evaluates the producer’s performance according to the criteria and indicators established by the framework. In addition to promoting the sustainable production of wine, the framework also aims to promote transparency and consumer trust in Portuguese wine products. By choosing a certified wine, the consumer has the assurance that the product was produced in a sustainable and responsible manner.
During the process of creating this framework, the CONSULT He had the opportunity to study the main global sustainability programs and the privilege of contacting numerous producers and agents in the sector interested in implementing this new certification scheme. With the presentation of the framework and the recognition of the certifying entities, a new and important stage begins where the accumulated knowledge and experience of CONSULT, It can be useful to speed up the implementation of the indicators and requirements necessary to meet the framework.
O National Reference for the Certification of Sustainability in the Wine Industry It is an important initiative to promote sustainability in the Portuguese wine sector, valuing responsible production and transparency with consumers.