by Tammy Spear
As a wine guide at Boundary Breaks Vineyard on Seneca Lake, I have the privilege of talking “all things wine” with visitors to the Finger Lakes Region each weekend. Some want to know about the Riesling or other popular varieties, some ask about our vineyards or the history of the winery, most are focused on finding their favorite wine. But lately in the tasting room I’ve noticed an uptick in the number of times questions on the topics of sustainability and climate change are brought up. So much so that I started to wonder if this was reflective of the larger community of FLX wine drinkers. And if so, what could I share with them? Are there ways for consumers to support sustainability and help wine growers as they adapt to climate change?
I decided to do a bit of research, and according to a range of recent studies, there has been a notable increase in consumers who are motivated by sustainability in their purchase habits. This is mainly driven by environmental factors such as climate change and social responsibility.
Research company Wine Intelligence reports that sustainability is important for at least two in every three wine consumers across five of the world’s biggest markets – the US, UK, Australia, Canada and China. In the US, wine consumer interest increased significantly in 2022, up 13 percent from the year before. Research from Wine Opinions shows strong support for sustainably produced wines, with two-thirds of wine consumers in the US responding that they believe sustainable production is important in making purchase decisions.
Wine Opinions research also shows that Millennials (age 28-43) and Gen Z (age 12-27) consumers are leading the way for sustainable action. With Millennials as one of the largest cohorts of wine tourists to visit our region, it’s no wonder there are more sustainability conversations in tasting rooms.
The FLX wine industry practices sustainability
As the largest wine-producing region in the US east of California, there are more than 130 wineries in the Finger Lakes. And, good news, sustainability is paramount to the region. Most wineries and grape growers have adopted efforts to practice responsible stewardship in their vineyards, production operations and tasting rooms.
Although sustainability is a broad and complex concept, at its core it refers to the awareness of the long-term impact of human activities on the planet. The aim is to have a winemaking process that protects the environment, supports social responsibility, maintains economic feasibility and produces high-quality wines. Many environmental factors are considered as grapes are grown, harvested and made into wine. This includes everything from maintaining biodiversity in vineyards to ensure soil health, to utilizing renewable energy technology – like solar or geothermal heating and cooling – as wine is being produced.
In 2023, a significant milestone was achieved as the first group of NY vineyards was certified in the New York Wine & Grape Foundation’s Sustainable Winegrowing program. This comprehensive program grants certification to vineyards who are seeking to advance their environmental, social and economic sustainability. Certification is based on science backed, regionally defined standards and independent third-party audits. More than 30 Finger Lakes vineyards were certified in this inaugural group, including: Airy Acres Vineyard, Boundary Breaks Vineyard, Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery and Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars, just to name a few. (For the full list, go to newyorkwines.org/industry/sustainability)
Sustainability is also practiced in packaging. Perhaps you’ve noticed a growing number of wines that no longer have a foil sleeve around the top of the bottle. Winemakers are working to eliminate their carbon footprint through packaging changes, with many now choosing to forgo those capsules as foil wrapping has become solely aesthetic in modern times.
How can wine drinkers help support sustainability?
• Look for the designated NY Trustmark on your favorite sustainably certified FLX wine bottles starting in 2024 to ensure that the wine you are enjoying is environmentally sound, socially equitable and financially sustainable.
• Buy wine directly from local farmers and winemakers or request local, sustainably produced wines at your favorite liquor stores and restaurants. Buying local wine helps reduce its carbon footprint as transportation adds to greenhouse gas emissions.
• Check winery websites, come into the tasting rooms and attend wine tasting events. Winemakers communicate about their sustainable practices there.
• Choose wine with eco-friendly packaging materials such as lighter weight bottles. Lighter weight packaging affects truck load in transportation and the manufacturing process, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Recycle your glass bottles. The infinite recyclability of glass creates a closed-loop system that generates no additional waste, thus reducing the carbon footprint.
• Minimize waste. Learning about proper wine storage and serving techniques can help reduce spoilage and waste.
Each Finger Lakes winery is unique, so be sure to ask questions at your favorites to find out how they are implementing sustainability practices. In the Boundary Breaks tasting room, we enjoy sharing information on what we’re doing to help the environment. Finger Lakes grape growers are adapting to a world of warmer temperatures and more extreme weather. They’re doing things they never used to do. For grape growers, climate change isn’t something that’s coming in 2050. It’s here now. And they need our support to keep doing the right thing.
