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The two Rossi brothers from Cefalicchio, a biodynamic vineyard in Puglia, the heel of Italy

Ethical pages - an overview

Wines produced by people who care

We care about the food we eat, the impact on the environment and paying producers a fair price. This applies to wine too!

Ethicalwine.com looks for good quality wines from all over the world that not only taste delicious but are also produced in an environmentally and socially responsible way.

This means looking for vineyards that are farmed without or with a minimum use of synthetic chemicals and where workers are well cared for, especially in higher risk countries such as South Africa.

Responsible producers care about the environment and about their workers. Some are willing to pay for certification for organic, biodynamic or fairtrade status.

Others just quietly do the right things and let the quality of their wines speak for themselves.

We believe all these growers deserve to be supported for their efforts and it's our job to recommend wines for you to enjoy that combine high quality with ethical credentials.

It's what's in the bottle that counts

We classify the wines according to various environmental and social attributes, for example whether they are fully certified organic or using sustainable practices. Click on the attributes below for more information.

Environmental Issues Biodynamic grapes Organic grapes Sustainable Viticulture Certified Carbon Neutral Locally produced (ie. from UK)

Social Issues Fairtrade certified Black Empowerment Project Ethical Principles Responsible Drinking Policy

Shades of green

Environmental and social issues for wine production are complex. There are often many shades of grey. Certifying bodies are numerous and have varying criteria. Even the most organic producers are still allowed to use copper sulphate to protect vines against disease. Some people question the cost to producers of Fairtrade certification. So it's not always as clear-cut as one would think.

Our view is that it is better to be doing something than nothing. We want to encourage producers to concentrate on quality first as this is key to long term sustainability. We also want them to achieve it in the most responsible way that suits their specific, individual circumstances. It is by talking to producers that we can gauge their commitment, not just by looking at logos on the label.