Welcome!
Wait! What? Green wine?
Yes, that’s right— wine that’s produced in ways that are the most likely to be respectful of your health and the planet. “Green” wine is shorthand for wines produced without chemicals— such as organic, sustainable, biodynamic, regenerative, natural, bee-friendly viticulture (grape cultivation) techniques.
Microplastics in my wine?
For millennia, wine, in moderation, has brought joy and even health benefits to entire civilizations around the world. But in the last few decades, more and more chemical pesticides have been used in conventionally farmed vineyards, as well as additives and microplastics in wine production.
Unsurprisingly, this has raised concerns for human and planetary health. It turns out grapes are now among the most heavily sprayed crops in the world, accounting for 20% of toxic pesticide use in some countries.
But there’s a lot of good news! More and more winemakers have found thoughtful ways to avoid using those products as much as possible, or even completely. Wine drinkers now have lots of choices of “green” wines, in every price point, region, quality, and style.
By voting with your wallet and buying “green” wine, you are supporting the backbreaking work of vintners who plant cover crops, protect biodiversity, and respect the environment and your health.
Do you drink wine? Do you want wine with more than just good flavor? Join us in discovering healthier wines that align with sustainability and mindful consumption.
Why read this website?
This site is dedicated to helping you understand how different wines can vary wildly in the amount of synthetic chemicals used to produce them, and why that might matter to your health and to planetary health. It is intended as an impartial resource to help you find
1) WINES
Produced using sustainable methods
Containing minimal or no synthetic pesticides or additives
Crafted with clean, natural care in full respect of Nature
2) INFORMATION such as
Published research
Educational videos and documentaries
FAQs
3) TOOLS such as
Wine search engines
Curated lists of “green” wines top tasters and renowned wine critics
Definitions of common terms and concepts
So you can decide if “green” wine should be a priority for you when you are choosing a wine to drink or share.
Make it stand out.
What’s the “Green” Wine Initiative?
Does your wine have synthetic chemical pesticides and fertilizers? Wine drinkers often don’t know. But many wines may contain residues from vineyard and winery practices.
One study (Blondin et al., 2022) found that in a sample of wines, pesticide residues were present in 90% of conventionally produced wines.
This website is intended to offer accessible, impartial education and resources on sustainably produced wine, not medical advice or certification. Our goal is ultimately to help you find wines produced with minimal synthetic products or additives in the vineyard and winery, for purchasing in shops, online, or at restaurants.
Together, we can make choices that support the planet! We can reduce the impact of wine on the environment and consumer well-being, while still enjoying its positive attributes.
IT ALL STARTS WITH SOIL HEALTH
There’s a lot of information available nowadays that can explain the importance of tending to the land in Nature-protecting ways.
Soil may not sound sexy, but it turns out that the fate of the planet relies on the life in our soil— microorganisms, rhizome networks… the world is waking up to the vital role they play in supporting life on land. And, by changing what we spray and how much we spay on crops, it can be a game-changer even for the oceans, that produce 50% of our oxygen.
Learn from “Green” Farmers:
Wine grape production shares a lot of know-how with agriculture more generally, and there are some good videos that explain how some farmers aim to restore the biodiversity and productivity losses that can result from the extensive use and overuse of synthetic chemicals. This is one produced by Groundswell Agriculture and gives a short overview of the concepts.
Viticulture-Specific Video on Cover Crops and Compost
Some vineyards enrich the soil naturally, reducing the need for heavy machinery
Impactful. Neglected. Tractable.
Soil is Life.
By 2050, up to 90% of our soil could be at risk. Healthy soil sustains our food, climate, and future.
In some countries, vineyards cover just 3% of farmland but use 20% of synthetic pesticides
That’s why we ask three guiding questions:
Impactful: Does it matter? Without soil, there is no food or life.
Neglected: Is anyone paying attention? Soil rarely makes headlines, yet it underpins everything.
Tractable: Can we make progress? Yes—smarter farming and soil restoration already work.
💡 Protecting soil is protecting life. The question isn’t if we should act—it’s how fast.
Explore the fun world of “green” wine
🌍 Powered by Care
Our love for the environment, animals, and community health—especially children—has motivated us to share this information. Check out Facts and Figures in our bibliography.
This research helped raise our awareness about the widespread use of synthetic inputs in wine grape production and their consequences, and motivated us to share it with you.
💚 Why “Green” Wine?
Support choices that many consider better for personal well-being and the environment by exploring the remarkable benefits of choosing “Green” Wine:
🌱Associated with restoring and strengthening soil
🌱 Aims to support ecosystems and biodiversity
🌱 Encourages cleaner choices that some research links to potential long-term health benefits.
🍇 A Snapshot of Green Wine Styles
Organic: Certified grapes, minimal sulfites (inorganic salt preservatives), no synthetic fertilizers. For nonasthmatics, sulfite adverse reactions are extremely rare.
Biodynamic: A holistic approach treating the vineyard as one living organism.
Sustainable: Protects the planet, workers, and communities.
Regenerative: Restores soil health, biodiversity, and climate resilience, typically by planting cover crops to protect the soil and not tilling the earth, and, where possible, integrating farm animals
Natural/Clean: Made with 100% organic or biodynamic grapes, produced with minimal or no synthetic pesticides or additives or intervention in the winemaking process.
Restorative + Sustainable Results in Farming
Every sip supports vineyards that prioritize soil health and biodiversity.
With “Green” Wine, you’re supporting farming practices that aim to restore soil and ecosystems.
These practices prioritize farming in rhythm with natural processes, aiming to provide mindful enjoyment, environmental benefits, and bold, honest flavor.
How it works:
🌍 Like other farmers, vintners can use regenerative viticulture to become carbon sinks, pulling CO₂ from the air back into the soil.
🐝 Biodiversity thrives—from bees to birds—and rural communities grow stronger.
🌾 Cover crops enrich and protect the soil, locking in nutrients for every grape.
🌱 No-till farming keeps life underground alive, letting the land breathe and renew.
Viticulture Styles: many people consider “Regenerative Organic” the gold standard
Nature’s ways are complex, and there are rarely simple solutions to complex challenges. Farming, whether grapes or other crops, is a balancing act between short-term and long-term results, and lots of different pressures, risks. This chart aims to simplify some of the variables
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Maybe you want to enjoy wine in a way that supports the planet.
Maybe you want to turn your love of wine into a choice that matters.
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Phone
+33 4 90 10 06 30
contact@chenebleu.com