Sustainable Wine: An Exploratory Analysis of Certification Frameworks and Producer Perspectives in Germany

Abstract

Sustainability standards for wine production seek to address the climate crisis from several perspectives. The study analyzes three organic (Demeter, EU organic farming regulations, ECOVIN) and two explicit sustainability standards (FairChoice, FAIR’N GREEN) based on available documentation, supplemented by follow-up communication. Additionally, twelve producers were interviewed to better understand their choices. Findings indicate that while standards have overlapping characteristics, they differ notably, especially in scope and granularity of requirements and approaches to social and economic dimensions. Producers’ expectations and experiences also differ. Organically certified producers highlighted production standards’ challenges and valued preservation; those with explicit sustainability certifications primarily valued flexibility.