News & Events
Over three days in early June, SWBC was invited to participate at The Future of Wine Americas 2021. Hundreds of wine and grape practitioners from around the world, with a focus on the Americas, gathered to discuss 'How the wine industry can build resilience and turn sustainability into opportunity'. Two SWBC associates presented as part of the discussion: Felix Egerer; How realistic is a chemical free vineyard, does it matter? and Katie Pease; Community engagement and license to operate: How to listen and respond, effectively.
To state the obvious, it's been a challenging year; the wildfires burning across British Columbia are a pressing concern. In an effort not to duplicate, but to again share resources available to you, please see the links below.
“My focus on improving soil organic matter/nutrient levels by top dressing under-row and inter-row with organic compost (60 tons) ties all the aspects [of sustainability] together”, says Heidi. “By improving nutrient levels, I can reduce my synthetic fertilizer inputs. The soil will (in time) be able to support more cover crops in dry conditions and therefore have increased water retention and good vine health. These things in combination help reduce costs and create a sustainable vineyard environment.”
We'd like to express a heartfelt thank you to the early adopters who's leadership is paving the way for a verified sustainable foundation for BC Winegrowing!
Join SWBC, BCWGC and BCGA for a free webinar, experts will discuss what is soil health, why it is important for your vines and techniques to manage it in your vineyard.
In an effort to create a logo which reflects the three pillars of sustainability, is easy to place on a bottle and identify by consumers, as well as coordinate with our host organization the BC Wine Grape Council, we’ve developed a new look.
For many years Graham O’Rourke has been a committed member of SWBC, helping to shape the certification program, and a diligent proponent of sustainable viticulture practices.
Interested in learning more about Sustainability Certification for your vineyard and/or winery? Join Sustainable Winegrowing BC for an online information session about the program essentials.
Starting November 2, 2020, earth-friendly vineyards and wineries will take stock of their sustainability efforts and apply for certification, with SWBC Certified wine hitting the shelves as early as spring 2021.
SWBC Certified represents the next generation of global certification standards, adapted to the BC winegrowing industry. The goal is to position BC wineries and growers as sustainability leaders worldwide. Ultimately, success will depend on the cooperative efforts of wineries, grape growers and industry stakeholders working individually and together.