Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015 to build a better and more sustainable future for all people. The goals, which are to be achieved over 15 years by 2030, provide concrete guidelines for solving global issues such as poverty and inequality, as well as climate change, without leaving anyone behind.Wine producers have a deep connection with nature. The idea that winemaking begins in the vineyard has become common knowledge, and many winemakers have adopted organic and sustainable farming practices. In recent years, the idea that to be truly sustainable one must consider not only one’s vineyard and winery, but also the natural and social environments that surround it, has become widespread in the industry. From among the many wine producers engaged in sustainable initiatives, we would like to introduce the activities of six wineries.A to Z Wine worksOregonWorking towards a society where everyone benefitsA to Z is a négociant project started in 2002 by the first general manager of Domaine Drouin in Oregon, his wife, and former winemakers from Archery Summit and Chehalem, with the goal of producing “low-cost, low-price, high value wines”. The wines are made from grapes sourced from growers throughout Oregon, and have gained a wide following for their pure expression of varietal character and well-balanced flavours.As a member of LIVE (Low Input Viticulture & Enology), a non-profit organization that teaches and certifies viticulture and winemaking in Oregon and Washington, A to Z works with more than 100 viticulturists with programs that support sustainable practices. It is also committed to protect honeybees by reducing the use of chemicals and pesticides in its vineyards and contract vineyards, as well as donating a portion of sales to support research into bee health at Oregon State University and other organizations.A to Z also holds B Corp Certification, which is awarded by B Lab, a nonprofit network advocating for the economic model design to benefit all people, communities and the planet, rather than maximizing profits. The certification is awarded to businesses meeting high standards of verified social and environmental performance, legal commitment to fairer workplace and transparency, a further indication of A to Z’s commitment to being a “good sustainable company”.BrooksWillamette Valley, Oregon1% for the PlanetBrooks was one of the first wineries in Oregon to adopt biodynamic farming in the early 2000s, and is Oregon’s leading Riesling producer. Despite its small production, the winery’s cellar door overlooking the vineyard and foodpairings offered with wines are extremely popular, and it has been ranked #1 in the winery category of Oregon Business Magazine’s “Favorite Places to Visit in Oregon” survey three years running since in 2019.In 2019, Brooks joined 1% for the Planet, a global network of >3,400 companies around the world that donate 1% of their revenues to activities and organizations restoring the global environment. 1% for the Planet is a non-profit organization co-founded in 2002 by the founders of Patagonia and Blue Ribbon Flies, a fly fishing equipment company. Donations are used to support a wide range of activities, including climate change, renewable energy, environmental education, food, land, water and wildlife conservation support.In 2021 Brooks joined Ecologi, a British environmental organization that aims to realize a low-carbon society, and have funded CO2 reduction projects around the world, including tree planting in African countries. Like A to Z, Brooks is a B Corp certified company.Ata RangiMartinborough, New ZealandProtecting the unique natural environmentAta Rangi, long recognized as one of New Zealand’s Top 5 wineries, is well known for its efforts to protect the environment. Clive Paton, the founder Ata Rangi, has long had a passion for conservation, acquiring a large block of old-growth bush adjacent to the Aorangi Forest Park in the Wellington region in 2002, which he renamed the Bush Block. Exploring the block Clive found a copse of native Rata, a tree which was thought to be extinct in the area, and has gone on to plant more than 75,000 trees on the block, including many more Rata. Clive also joined Project Crimson, an initiative to protect New Zealand’s native flowering trees such as the Pohutukawa and Rata, donating a portion of the sales of every bottle of Crimson Pinot Noir to support this initiative. Ata Rangi is a founding member of SWNZ (Sustainable Winegrowing NZ), a winemaker-led program that sets standards for sustainable practices from viticulture to production, and was the second winery in New Zealand after Palliser to obtain ISO 14001 certification. Ata Rangi’s vineyards were certified BioGro NZ* in 2014, and compost is made from winery waste and natural organic matter from winery waste and natural organic matter from the forest and ocean. Cooling during production is kept to a minimum, with most fermentation occurring at ambient temperature, and solar panels on the winery roof provide most of the daytime power. In addition, they source light-weight bottles domestically and use cardboard cartons with high recycle material content, all in efforts to reduce CO2 emission.For more info, read the article from 2018 Winter catalogue.Interview with Ata Rangi winemaker [A conversation with Helen Masters - all begins with the fruit]Palliser EstateMartinborough, New ZealandUpholding 3 pillars: social, economic & environmental sustainabilityFounded by a group of investors, Palilser Estate planted its first vines in 1984, about 10 years after Martinborough pioneers such as Ata Rangi. In 1989, they built by far the largest winery in Martinborough at the time. From the beginning, they focused on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and with a clear vision and stable management quickly created the premium Estate range and the entry-level Pencarrow range, and began marketing globally.From when the concept of sustainability first entered the marketplace, Palliser had a clear focus on three facets of sustainability: the soil and environment; people and communities; and business’ social responsibility. They worked to mitigate their operation risk not only to the environment, but to customers, workers and everything else that surrounds them. The winery was one of the first in the world to receive ISO 14001 certification in 2004 ,and in 2009 it became the first winery in the world to receive CEMARS (Certified Emissions Management And Reduction Scheme) certification for measuring and reducing CO2 and other emissions. Currently, more than half of the vineyards are BioGro NZ certified. By 2025 the remaining vineyards will be converted to organic viticulture, and by 2028 all seven vineyards (72 hectares) will be BioGro NZ certified.Locally, Palliser has been a long-time sponsor of a program to conserve and maintain the ecosystem around Onoke Spit, a coastal sandbar that flows from Lake Onoke into Palliser Bay.GrossetClare Valley, South AustraliaGaia vineyard - the embodiment of symbiosisGaia VineyardSince he established Grosset in 1981, owner and winemaker Jeffrey Grosset has been committed to making wines that are pure expressions of the varietals and region. He has been named one of the world’s ‘Top 10 White Winemakers’ by Decanter and ’50 Most Influential Winemakers’ by Wine & Spirits USA. Grosset led the introduction of screw caps to replace corks in 2000 in Australia, because he didn’t want any outside influence to shade the heart and soul he put into his Rieslings.The two Grosset vineyards in the Clare Valley were planted entirely by hand and have been sustainably and organically farmed since 1992. Both vineyard and winery are now certified AOC Australian Certified Organic, one of the world’s most stringent organic certification standards. Grosset views certification not as an achievement but a step in the right direction to make wines we will be proud of.The Cabernet-dominant Gaia Vineyard planted on hard, red rock soils in 1986, is located at 560 meters, the highest point in the Clare Valley, and is only accessible by 4WD. It’s exposed to the elements but it consistently produces grapes with concentrated flavours. This pesticide-and herbicide-free vineyard was named ‘Gaia’ after scientist James Lovelock’s theory of symbiosis, which views human and environmental sustainability as inseparable. In 2009, the Grosset-Gaia Foundation was established to continue collaboration with sustainable organizations and institutions actively engaged in cultural, scientific, research, and environmental issues.For more info, read the article from 2017 Winter catalogue.Interview with Grosset Wines winemaker [From South Australia to the world - The Riesling Trendsetter]Bodega ColoméValle Colomé, Salta Province, ArgentinaImproving social infrastructure and contributing to the CommunityBodega Colomé has garnered worldwide interest for its award-winning Malbecs and Tannats. It is located on the Tropic of Capricorn at latitude 23°south, which is thought to be impossible for viticulture. However, the grapes grown in their four vineyards at 1,700-3,111m altitude have thick, dark skins, concentrated fruit, and a strong acid and tannin structure due to the strong UVrays and diurnal temperature difference.Founded in 1831, Bodega Colomé is the oldest winery still operating in Argentina, making wines from both local varieties and imported Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon from pre-phylloxera France. In 2001, Swiss businessman Donald Hess and his wife bought the vineyard and winery, which were free of fertilizers and other chemicals, and set out to create an industry that supports nearly 1,500 local residents. In addition to water and energy infrastructures they built for the winery, they also contributed to hospitals, supermarkets, preschools and other social infrastructure. They long abandoned vineyards were re-developed with biodynamic cultivation methods which suited to the land. Blessed with a dry climate, there was no need to spray fertilizers, but they did struggle with wild donkeys which are sacred to the local people, and loved to munch on fresh grape shoots.Bodega Colomé’s approach of improving social infrastructures in remote area through wine industry employing scientifically grounded cultivation methods and modern equipment, is a realization of their idea of sustainability. The visitor center attached to the winery attracts thousands of international visitors every year, also contributing to the local economy.Bodega Colomé ranked 35th in the ‘World’s Best Vineyards 2021’, which awards wines as well as the winery facility.For more info, read the article from 2021 Winter catalogue.Interview with Bodega Colome winemaker [Creating special wines from remote, high-altitude vineyards]* ISO 14001 is an internationally recognized certification for environmental management systems.** BioGro NZ is New Zealand’s largest organic certificate organization. It setsstrict standards, requiring detailed management plans and annual on-site auditsof vineyards and facilities to receive certification.