IWCA Gold Membership Doubles as 3.5% of Global Wine Production Commits to Climate Action

The International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA) released its latest annual report, highlighting significant progress in the global wine industry’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions. As of 2025, IWCA members now account for 3.5% of worldwide wine production, a notable increase that reflects growing industry engagement with climate action. Over the past year, the number of Gold members within the organization has doubled, rising from nine to 18. This group includes prominent producers such as Symington Family Estates in Portugal and Henschke in Australia. Gold membership is reserved for wineries that generate at least half of their own energy needs, reducing dependence on national power grids and demonstrating a strong commitment to renewable energy.

The report also emphasizes the commercial benefits of sustainability. Katie Jackson, president of IWCA and owner of Jackson Family Wines, stated that reducing carbon emissions is not only about regulatory compliance but also about maintaining competitiveness in the market. She noted that aligning profitability with environmental responsibility is reshaping what it means to be a successful wine producer today.

A major development this year was the launch of a greenhouse gas (GHG) calculator tailored for Latin American wineries. Introduced in January 2025, this tool was developed in collaboration with leading wineries from Argentina and Chile, including Domaine Bousquet, Grupo Peñaflor, Miguel Torres Chile, and VSPT Wine Group. The calculator is available free of charge on the IWCA website and allows producers to measure their carbon footprint across all three recognized scopes of emissions. By enabling wineries to compare their results with others in the region, the tool aims to foster greater transparency and encourage more sustainable practices throughout Latin America.

For the first time, Germany and South Africa are represented among IWCA’s members. German cooperative Bötzinger and South Africa’s Mullineux and Leeu Passant joined the organization this year. Bötzinger brings together over 300 winegrowers across 360 hectares in Germany’s Kaiserstuhl region, an area known for its focus on Burgundy grape varieties. Mullineux operates in South Africa’s Swartland region and is recognized for its Syrah and Chenin Blanc wines, while Leeu Passant participates actively in South Africa’s Old Vine Project, which certifies vineyards older than 35 years.

IWCA has also expanded its reach to smaller producers by introducing an affiliation option for microwineries—those producing less than 135,000 liters per year. This initiative aims to make participation more accessible for small-scale wineries that may lack the resources to meet IWCA’s full membership requirements. Affiliated microwineries are required to measure their carbon emissions at least every other year and commit to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. According to Josep Ribas, founding board member of IWCA and sustainability manager at Familia Torres, interest in this program has been strong since its launch, with new members expected to join in 2026.

The current list of IWCA Gold member wineries includes Abadia Retuerta, Alma Carraovejas, CVNE, Familia Torres, Familia Gil Family Estates (all Spain), Viña Concha y Toro, Miguel Torres Chile, VSPT Wine Group, Undurraga (all Chile), Henschke and Hill-Smith Family Estates (Australia), Yealands Wine Group (New Zealand), Herdade dos Grous and Symington Family Estates (Portugal), Jackson Family Wines, Opus One, Spottswoode, and St Supery (United States). These wineries represent a cross-section of global leaders committed to advancing sustainability within the wine sector through science-based action and collaboration.