Who we are
Ontario grape industry
Ontario wine industry
Events
Who we are 
Ontario Grape Industry
Ontario Wine Industry
Events
More links
Many Ontario grape growers and winemakers have chosen to take their environmentally-friendly practices one step further by participating in the voluntary sustainability certification program. Visit our Instagram page to hear what it means to Ontario grape growers to be sustainable.
Background
In 2007, the Ontario Craft Wineries (OCW) created 'An Environmental Charter for the Wine Industry' and in 2014 Grape Growers of Ontario (GGO) collaborated with growers, wineries and industry experts to create the 'Ontario Viticulture Sustainability Certification Program'. These programs were developed for wineries and vineyards to provide information on environmental requirements and identify new sustainable opportunities while complying with existing government regulations. By 2016, these proactive programs were operating in tandem as accredited certification programs audited by independent third-party auditors, thus providing further validity to the sustainability efforts from the industry.
In 2021, the OCW and GGO merged the two programs to operate under one unified program - Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario (SWO). This program is built around the three core pillars of sustainability – Environment, Economy, and Community. Practices within these pillars reflect how certified wineries and growers are invested in respecting our natural resources, building sustainable businesses, and are committed to social responsibility. Evolving the program to include both winery and vineyard certification ensures that the complete grape to glass cycle is sustainable. Look for 'Certified Sustainable' at Ontario vineyards and the SWO logo on your favourite Ontario VQA wine bottle starting with the 2021 vintage.
Explore sustainable vineyard practices by clicking on the plus signs in the graphic below:
Certified Growers
| Niagara-on-the-Lake |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Lincoln | |||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| St. Catharines | |||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Grimsby-Hamilton | |||
|
|
||
| Southwestern Ontario | |||
|
|
||
| Prince Edward County | |||
|
|
|
|