How New York Wineries Lead in Sustainable Wine Production

By Blake Jackson

Sustainability is fundamentally about supporting life, and while official definitions such as those from the U.S. EPA highlight the importance of a healthy environment for human well-being, the concept stretches far beyond ecology.

A product grown with care for the environment ceases to be sustainable if its producers cannot remain economically viable. Likewise, sustainability cannot be achieved if the people and communities behind a product are not supported in meaningful ways.

In the wine industry, there is no formal, universal definition of “sustainable wine” or “sustainable wine businesses.” Yet across New York, many of the state’s 400-plus wineries are adopting environmental and social practices that align with their operations and community values.

Some pursue third-party certifications that verify adherence to environmental and production standards, while others invest in their own initiatives that reflect broader sustainability goals.

“For us, sustainability isn’t a single initiative or certification, but a guiding principle that informs how we farm, how we do business, and how we engage with our community,” says Alex Kates of Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard and Standing Stone Vineyards. For their team, this means protecting the land, fostering a workplace where employees “can grow, thrive, and build meaningful careers,” and reinvesting in the region to strengthen the local economy.

Consumer interest is strong as well. A Bain & Company report indicates that 64% of shoppers express “high levels of concern about sustainability.”

At Hermann J. Wiemer, sustainable farming has long been part of vineyard operations. Herbicides have been avoided for more than two decades, and the vineyard now practices regenerative farming, using livestock and cover crops to reduce outside inputs.

In 2023, the winery earned Demeter Certified Biodynamic status and also joined the New York Sustainable Winegrowing program.

Other wineries, such as Sparkling Pointe on Long Island and Billsboro Winery in Geneva, incorporate solar power, recycling programs, vegan winemaking, and region-specific sustainability certifications. Fox Run Vineyards enhances its efforts with pollinator habitats, recycled glass use, and extensive solar energy.

Many wineries extend their sustainability focus into community support, including charitable partnerships, workforce development, and environmental advocacy demonstrating that sustainability in New York wine is as much about people as it is about the land.

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