In celebration of Earth Day on April 22, we are thrilled to announce our recent estate certification by Sustainable Winegrowing BC (SWBC), a program that recognizes and encourages environmentally and socially responsible practices in the BC wine industry. This recognition complements our 2022 vineyard certification and makes Quails’ Gate the sixth winery in BC to achieve full certification.
As a family-owned business that spans three generations and more than a century of farming in the Okanagan Valley, we have a sense of responsibility for the land and the community in which we operate and its future. This certification reflects our commitment to reducing our environmental impact, conserving natural resources and promoting the well-being of our employees and the surrounding community.
As proud members of SWBC’s program to pioneer sustainability certification in British Columbia, we are honoured to be recognized alongside grape growers and wineries across the province who are dedicated to making wine production sustainable now and for the future. To earn the certification, Quails’ Gate estate underwent a rigorous third-party audit that assessed our performance in several key areas, including:
- Biodiversity conservation
- Soil and water management
- Energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction
- Waste reduction and recycling
- Ethical and social responsibility
The SWBC certification acknowledges that we are doing everything we can to reduce the impact of our operations on the environment and ensure we are providing not only a quality product but an environmentally responsible one as well.
A growing number of B.C. winemakers are investing in sustainability — here’s why. – CBC News
As part of our commitment to sustainability, we also have a long-standing partnership with the Nature Conservancy of Canada to help protect the sensitive ecosystems of our province. Our support has contributed to the conservation of vital land, forest and habitat throughout BC’s southern interior and beyond to help build a stronger, more sustainable environment for future generations to come.
Here are some of the ways our support has contributed to important conservation projects:
- The conservation of five hectares of Bonanza Marsh, which plays a critical role in maintaining water quality in Slocan Lake.
- The protection of 35 hectares of mature Coastal Douglas-fir forest and precious intertidal habitat at Edith Point on Mayne Island.
- The reclamation of two hectares of wetland habitat at Frog Bear conservation lands for the benefit of the numerous at-risk amphibians and migratory birds of the Creston Valley.
- The planting of more than 15,000 western red-cedar seedlings to heal the forest of Gámdas Tlagée on Haida Gwaii.
- The removal of 110 pick-up trucks worth of invasive plants from the rare coastal sand dune habitat at James Island.
- The planting of 400 native shrubs at Osoyoos Oxbows Conservation Area to restore riparian habitat.
To learn more about sustainability certification visit sustainablewinegrowingbc.ca and to learn more about the important conservation work being done by Nature Conservancy of Canada visit and natureconservancy.ca.
