CedarCreek Estate Winery, a leading winery in Canada committed to organic vineyards and winemaking practices, has joined the International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA). This new partnership marks a significant milestone for the winery’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.
International Wineries of Climate Action is a collaborative working group of environmentally committed wineries taking a science-based approach to reducing carbon emissions across the wine industry. Their goal is to share best practices that mitigate climate change impacts in vineyard and winery operations.
The IWCA partnership follows a landmark year for CedarCreek Estate Winery, which won the Winery of the Year title at the 2022 WineAlign National Wine Awards. It topped 250 wineries and nearly 2,000 wines entered from across Canada to earn the coveted title. In announcing the win, co-head judge Anthony Gismondi cited the commitment of CedarCreek and its winemaker, Taylor Whelan, to making Earth-friendlier wines: “Whelan pursues the most natural paths possible,” he wrote, on an “estate teeming with life.”
Climate change poses a substantial threat to the viticultural landscape. One of the key highlights of this partnership is the implementation of stringent environmental and sustainability standards. These standards encompass every aspect of winemaking, from vineyard practices to production and distribution, ensuring that each step in the process aligns with the highest environmental ethics.
CedarCreek’s dedication to sustainability is embedded into every aspect of their operations, from organic and regenerative viticultural practices to developing a portfolio that allows them to continuously measure and reduce their impact on the environment and the local community. Recently, they have established a sustainability department that oversees and ensures that its sustainable portfolio is relevant to all business units, from agricultural practices to winemaking and hospitality.
“As a business, we are committed to achieving the greenhouse gas reduction targets set out by IWCA, and sharing our work, challenges, and opportunities with the greater organization,” says Taylor. “While climate change mitigation and resilience have not been our only priorities on our path towards a more sustainable business model, we realize that they have become some of the most consequential.”
Through this collaborative effort, CedarCreek aims to help set a new standard for sustainable winemaking while inspiring others in the industry to follow suit. Together, IWCA and the winery aspire to create a brighter, more sustainable future for the industry worldwide.
“We are excited to take a leading role in the transition to a carbon-free future, to learn from other IWCA members about past solutions and challenges, and to contribute our learnings back to other wineries,” Taylor says. —Vita Daily
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