THE 2026 GOLDEN VINES
SUSTAINABILITY AWARD
2026 Applications are now open - please send your submission to awards@liquidicons.com prior to 30th August 2026.
THE AWARD
The production of great wine is integrally linked to exceptional individuals and outstanding terroir. This fundamental connection of the people and land makes wine truly unique amongst alcoholic beverages.
As the wine trade struggles against a background of unprecedented competition, increased taxation and anti-alcohol sentiment all compounded by falling market share, and when consumers are more concerned than ever about authenticity and provenance, sustainability is one way that we can engage with new and lapsed consumers.
The adoption of sustainable business practises - incorporating all activities linked to improving the environment, a long-term commitment to everyone within the winery community, all underpinned by a sound economic model - provides the wine category an unprecedented opportunity to share their story and positively engage with its audience to become the alcohol consumers responsible 'drink of choice'.
The aim of this Award is therefore to identify and celebrate those wineries who are taking an industry leading position in the sustainability arena.
By highlighting their activities and achievements we hope to act as a focal point for connecting like-minded wineries in order to share best practices and encourage the fine wine industry to communicate their unique sustainability stories and achievements.
We are therefore looking for fine wine producers to make a submission to the Golden Vines® Sustainability judging panel, describing their activities which should include:
measurable improvements in the environmental impact of vineyard and winery operations taking into account their unique terroir, addressing issues linked to natural resource use, water and waste management, increased biodiversity (which may extend to regenerative, organic or biodynamic farming practices);
a demonstrable commitment towards social improvement both within the workforce and the surrounding community. Within this, recognition will also be given to any initiative supporting diversity within the industry;
a clear reduction in the carbon footprint across all aspects of the business, both within direct winery operations, but also extending to the wider supply chain;
new innovations and long-term investment in support of the above.
demonstrable leadership within the local community and across the wine sector.
Any winery producing exceptional wine, from its own vineyards within recognised quality regions is invited to make a submission to Golden Vines®. Ideally these commitments will be part of a long-term strategy, but as an annual Award, particular focus will be given to activities within the last 12 months. Submissions should be sent to awards@liquidicons.com prior to 30 August 2026.
The Judges
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Adrian Garforth MW, Head Judge
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Steve Mattiasson
-
Hervé Berland
THE CRITERIA
Applications are open to any estate producing exceptional wine, from its own vineyards within recognised quality regions. These commitments were ideally to be part of a long-term strategy, but as an annual Award, particular focus will given by the Judges to activities within the last 12 months.
The Judges will examine each application in accordance with the following detailed criteria:
1) Environmental Impact of Vineyard & Winery Operations (30 points)
Each sub-criterion scored 0–10. Average x 3 = pillar score (max 30).
1.1 Resource efficiency (water, energy, inputs)
- 0 = no tracking
- 5 = partial measurement and small reductions
- 10 = audited reductions with targets achieved
Evidence required: water use per hectare or bottle, kWh per bottle, chemical input reduction %1.2 Waste & circularity
- 0 = landfill dominant
- 5 = basic recycling/composting
- 10 = closed-loop or near-zero waste system
Evidence: % recycled/reused, pomace reuse, packaging reduction, certified waste diversion rate1.3 Biodiversity & farming practices
- 0 = conventional monoculture
- 5 = organic or partial biodiversity initiatives
- 10 = regenerative system with measurable biodiversity gain
Evidence: certified organic/biodynamic/regenerative, cover crops, soil organic matter %, species counts, hedgerows, pollinators2) Social Responsibility & Community Impact (20 points)
Each scored 0–10. Average x 2 = pillar score (max 20).
2.1 Workforce standards
- 0 = legal minimum only
- 5 = fair wages and basic training
- 10 = documented best practice
Evidence: living wage, permanent contracts, safety metrics, training hours per employee, staff retention rate2.2 Community & diversity initiatives
- 0 = no engagement
- 5 = occasional support
- 10 = structured, ongoing, measurable programmes
Evidence: local employment %, education schemes, diversity targets, scholarships, supplier inclusion, verified impact data3) Carbon Footprint & Climate Strategy (30 points)
Each scored 0–10. Average x 3 = pillar score (max 30).
3.1 Measurement & transparency
- 0 = no carbon accounting
- 5 = partial Scope 1–2
- 10 = full Scope 1–3 with third-party verification
Evidence: annual carbon report, recognised methodology (GHG Protocol), external audit3.2 Emissions reduction performance
- 0 = no reduction
- 5 = small improvements
- 10 = significant reductions with science-based targets
Evidence: % reduction per bottle/year, renewable energy %, lightweight glass, logistics optimisation3.3 Supply chain action
- 0 = none
- 5 = supplier guidelines
- 10 = enforced standards and measurable impact
Evidence: supplier requirements, shipping modes, local sourcing %, bulk freight, packaging redesign4) Innovation & Long-Term Investment (20 points)
Each scored 0–10. Average x 2 = pillar score (max 20).
4.1 Innovation quality
- 0 = incremental
- 5 = useful improvements
- 10 = industry-leading or replicable innovation
Evidence: new technology, regenerative pilots, water capture systems, alternative packaging, research partnerships4.2 Commitment & longevity
- 0 = short-term projects
- 5 = 2–3 year plan
- 10 = multi-year investment with clear KPIs
Evidence: capital expenditure, roadmap, public targets, board oversight, budget allocationScoring Summary
Pillar: Environmental Operations
Max Points - 30
Pillar: Social Responsibility
Max Points - 20
Pillar: Carbon & Climate
Max Points - 30
Pillar: Innovation & Investment
Max Points - 20
Total
100
The 2025 Front-Runners
Bousquet
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Corison
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Henschke
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Symington
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Torres
The 2024 Winner
Felton Road
The Felton Road winery was bought by Nigel Greening, a self-described Pinot Noir “addict” from England, in 2000 and has been farmed organically & biodynamically since then. Winemaker Blair Walter’s experience in Oregon and Burgundy has stood him in good stead for coaxing the best out of the property’s vines, where he adopts a ‘hands off’ approach in the unique three-level winery built into the hillside. They embrace biodynamic practices, producing wines of elegance, complexity and exceptional depth of fruit.
Staying true to the company’s ethos that a successful business should take a holistic view of the entire community, one percent of turnover goes towards causes and projects that advocate for wider social responsibility. They put people ahead of profits and, in an effort to preserve the environment, have committed to a zero growth policy since 2000, producing at 100% of their limit since 2006.
Their organic and biodynamic philosophy helps create a more sustainable vineyard and winery, through a greater understanding of the interactions between the soils, microorganisms, plants and animals. The result is a healthy and balanced ecosystem, with land set aside specifically for composting using only indigenous materials to preserve the terroir, and grazing animals to maintain the land around the vineyard. They’ve also made huge efforts to introduce low impact practices, like solar panels, electric cars and recycling of lees and glass to minimise waste, with no excessive packaging.
The results are ecologically responsible wines that taste incredible and singularly embody both the place and the people who make them.
The 2023 Winner
Emidio Pepe
True leaders in the field of sustainable winemaking, Emidio Pepe is a family winery established in 1964 and from day one was run with an unwavering commitment to making fine wine whilst preserving nature and respecting traditional farming and winemaking practises; this was at a time when sustainability was unheard of, and the world was rapidly evolving toward the use of herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers to help boost yields and manage quality. As a result, Emidio Pepe has always produced wines of distinction, that truly reflect their unique terroir and have an amazing capacity to age. The winery remains family owned, and the new generations continue to embrace modernity and are employing precision agriculture alongside traditional practices that, due to the vision of their founder, are proving as relevant today as they have ever been. Their submission for the award demonstrated that sustainability is a fundamental part of their DNA. Their achievements also highlight that even the smallest of wineries can compete with larger corporations when it comes to making great wine whilst respecting nature and the community, and in so doing, have an enviable track record of success over a long period of time.
The 2022 Winner
Louis Roederer
The go-to Champagne of kings, this famed house uses organic practices in all its vineyards, of which 115 hectares are certified organic with the remainder of the estate being in conversion. Committed to biodynamic practices and inspired by the concepts of permaculture, the team pioneered research into sustainable farming and climate change since 2000 with the results greatly changing the way one of the most sought-after Champagnes is crafted.
Champagne Louis Roederer was established in 1776 and is now run by the seventh generation of the family, Frédéric Rouzaud. Vineyard holdings of over 240 hectares (exclusively in Grand and Premier Cru villages) make the house self-sufficient for around 70 per cent of their non-vintage production and 100 per cent of their vintage champagnes.
Roederer’s range includes eight wines of which the most famous, of course, are the iconic Cristal and Cristal Rosé. Cristal was the first prestige cuvée, created by a commission from Tsar Alexander II of Russia in 1876. The distinctive wrapper is there to protect the wine from ultraviolet light. Cristal Rosé was created in 1974.