Obtaining Terra Vitis certification
Terra Vitis is the result of the work of winegrowers who are keen to promote and enhance good practice within a sustainable wine industry. It is the only national certification specific to winegrowing recognised by the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
It is based on an exhaustive and demanding set of specifications, drawn up by members working in the field, with full knowledge of the realities of the sector.
For grape farmers and winegrowers, Terra Vitis certification is a guarantee that their daily work is recognised and valued by those involved in the sector, and by consumers.
For wine retailers and restaurateurs all the way through to consumers, the Terra Vitis logo on a wine bottle is a mark of safety and quality. It guarantees regular and rigorous checks as well as product traceability from start to finish.
Key points
- Drawn up by and for winegrowers: common sense and field knowledge guide the drafting of the specifications.
- The fruit of a pioneering approach, and a commitment made over 25 years ago.
- The only national certification for sustainable viticulture, based on the pillars of sustainability.
- Recognised by the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food: a quality guarantee for consumers, and recognition of our members’ work and commitment.
Terra Vitis is a certification for sustainable winegrowers who strive to work well, and to do better.
What Terra Vitis certifies
Terra Vitis certification is based on precise specifications related to the following five key points:
- Product traceability – our approach is completely transparent;
- Exhaustiveness – our approach is global, from vine to wine glass, based on the three pillars of sustainable development;
- Reason – our approach is pragmatic and consistent;
- Progress – our specifications evolve;
- Interaction – we value the sharing of ideas, experience and best practice.
guarantees the commitment of grape farmers and winegrowers to respect for the environment, society and the economic sustainability of wine estates.
It is also a guarantee of transparency and traceability for consumers, making it easy for them to find information about product provenance and certification requirements.
Terra Vitis is a certification which applies to the estate and its wines, at all stages of production.
It is not limited to certifying that the grapes were farmed responsibly: we inspect the entire estate where they were grown and ensure that it meets our specifications.
What our specifications cover
Our specifications are an essential part of the Terra Vitis certification. They cover all the requirements that a wine grower has to meet in order to obtain certification for the wines of the current vintage.
In addition to being a transparent and measurable evaluation grid for certification, the specifications are also a complete guide for winegrowers wanting to progress towards exemplary management of their estate.
Currently, the Terra Vitis specifications include nearly 80 check points. These standards have been built and expanded around the fundamental pillars of sustainable development, taking into account scientific and technical progress, feedback from the field, and obligations linked to the recognition of the certification by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
It is a complete document, made by and for winegrowers, and compliance with it guarantees the commitment of winegrowers in three main areas:
Preservation of the environment
Social responsibility
Economic sustainability
How audits are carried out
Each estate wishing to obtain or maintain its Terra Vitis certification is audited either by the local Terra Vitis association or by an approved independent body (Afnor, Certipaq or Ocacia).
The auditor verifies strict compliance with the specifications according to a defined audit and submits the conclusions to the association, which decides on a case-by-case basis for each estate.
Certification is annual, which means that an inspection is carried out every year and that a estate can lose its certification if it no longer complies with the specification requirements.
is demanding and brings structure. It aims first and foremost to support winegrowers who wish to engage in a process of continuous improvement by offering them a complete and practical guide.
The approach is part of a system which guides and supports winegrowers on a daily basis, to enhance the value of their work and their wines.
The Terra Vitis certification requirements are a solid guarantee for consumers of wine quality and production. Traceability is one of the pillars of our specifications, meaning that the wine’s’ path can be followed from vine to wine glass.
Joining Terra Vitis
If you want your wines and your commitment to be recognised by joining Terra Vitis, these are the steps to follow to obtain Terra Vitis certification.
Becoming a member of a regional association
Help with implementing necessary actions
Decision taken by the association
Training and/or business audit
Audit report sent to Terra Vitis
Certification
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