Geothermal energy, organic farming and community support are just the beginning — Niagara wineries are quietly leading a movement in sustainable wine.
When we think of sustainability, the environment comes to mind — preserving the planet for future generations. But in Niagara’s wine country, sustainability is much more than an eco-conscious buzzword. It’s a layered, long-term commitment — to the land, to the people and to the future. And often, it starts quite literally from the ground up.
A growing ethos
Across the Niagara region, wineries share more than incredible products — they’re part of a growing community committed to doing things differently. That ethos is also what drives Andrea Kaiser, who has spent her life immersed in Niagara’s wine scene.
Born and raised in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Kaiser is the daughter of the late Karl J. Kaiser, co-founder of the iconic Inniskillin Wines and a pioneer of modern Canadian winemaking. She’s seen the industry evolve dramatically — and now, she’s playing a central role in shaping its future.
About five years ago, she was invited to chair Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario — a program that certifies wineries committed to environmental responsibility, economic viability and community support. The certification digs deeper than just a label; it’s the result of wineries’ rigorous self-assessments that ensure excellence.
Kaiser leads the program alongside a diverse committee of industry professionals — including representatives from the grape-growing community, regional appellation authorities, wineries, vineyard owners and the provincial marketing board. Together, they review and refine the program annually to keep it relevant. Certification is earned through a detailed series of questionnaires and surveys that businesses must complete, achieving a minimum benchmark score. Each submission is then audited by an independent third party to ensure transparency and integrity.
“When a winery is considering becoming certified sustainable, it can be a daunting endeavour,” Kaiser says. “But most wineries are already doing many of the right things. The program just helps them sit down, take stock and push even further — even down to things such as using local cheeses in tourism programs or recyclable packaging at events.”
The SWO program is administered by Ontario Craft Wineries, in partnership with Grape Growers of Ontario, which provides vineyard certifications and Ontario Wine Appellation Authority, which certifies that the wines produced from 100 per cent Ontario fruit are approved Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA).”That’s the nugget of the program,” Kaiser explains. “In order to be certified sustainable, the first step is that your wine must be VQA.” This standard alone guarantees that what you’re drinking is grown and produced nearby — as well as supporting local farmers.
For Kaiser, it’s a full-circle moment. Her father helped create the very VQA standards that laid the foundation for the Canadian wine industry today. Now, she’s helping carry that legacy forward, through a lens of sustainability that considers not just the environment, but the broader impact on the local economy and population.
And in a moment when we’re increasingly focused on supporting local, choosing sustainable wines is a meaningful act. “As Canadians look inwards, buying VQA wines as a first choice, and then digging deeper to find those that are sustainably certified, is going to help build a strong economy in our own backyard.”
Top: Benjamin Whitty, director of sales at 13th Street Winery, walks the vineyard his family has farmed for generations. His great-grandfather founded Whitty Farms in 1908, and today, Benjamin carries on the legacy alongside his father Doug and brother Thomas. Photos by Nataschia Wielink.
Bottom: Vineyard manager Augusta Vanmuyen keeps things thriving at Tawse Winery, from the cover crops and wildflowers to the sheep that double as lawnmowers and fertilizing crew — all to help the grapes grow.
The earth is key
At 13th Street Winery, tucked near the village of Jordan in the heart of the Niagara wine region, the earth plays an active role in day-to-day operations. A geothermal system, buried six feet beneath the property, quietly powers heating and cooling across the winery’s modern, barn-style buildings. It’s an innovation that has significantly lowered energy use and utility costs — two key pillars of a more sustainable business model.
Benjamin Whitty, a fourth-generation farmer and second-generation head of the family-run winery, is focused on making every drop of water and every watt of energy count. “We’ve started to quantify our water use year over year,” he explains. “We measure our output relative to production and guest visits. There are definite performance indicators we aim for.”
As a SWO-certified winery, 13th Street’s commitment to sustainability also extends to the human-element: fostering community. Its leaders are passionate about supporting the Canadian arts through the Expression Project, which funds bursaries for emerging artists in partnership with Ontario College of Art & Design (OCAD) University, Brock University and the Art Gallery of Ottawa.
Harnessing geothermal energy
Just a 15-minute drive away at Tawse Winery, vineyard manager Augusta Vanmuyen shares a similar philosophy. Set along the Niagara Escarpment in Vineland, Tawse also harnesses geothermal energy — drawn from a nearby pond — to regulate temperatures throughout the winery. “We practice minimal intervention winemaking to let the wine speak for itself,” Vanmuyen says. Even Tawse’s barrel cellar and tanks are heated and cooled with energy from the earth.
Sustainability at Tawse has deep roots — literally and figuratively. Since the property was purchased in 2001, the team has embraced organic farming practices and continues to have an eye toward soil health, minimal tillage and permanent cover crops beneath vine rows. Vanmuyen also pays close attention to biodiversity, encouraging micro-organisms, insects and wildlife to thrive. “It all translates into the final product, giving grapes more energy and life,” she says.
The business participates in the annual Grapes for Humanity wine auctions, helping to raise vital funds for environmental initiatives such as Tree Canada and the Nature Conservancy of Canada, as well as global humanitarian efforts.
Giving back one per cent
A little farther west, Hidden Bench Estate Winery — the 2023 National Wine Awards’ Winery of the Year — is another sustainable standout. Nestled on the Beamsville Bench, Hidden Bench is known for its exquisite Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling. But owner Harald Thiel is just as proud of what’s happening behind the scenes. Another SWO-certified winery and vineyard, many people in the wine industry look to Hidden Bench as a model for sustainability.
“The buzzword now is ‘regenerative agriculture’,” Thiel says, “but we’ve been doing this for 15 years. It’s not just a trend for us.” For Thiel, true sustainability comes down to three things: avoiding herbicides and pesticides, conserving water and minimizing electricity use. “We try to check all those boxes.”
As a member of 1% for the Planet — a global network with thousands of businesses and environmental organizations working together to support people and the planet — Hidden Bench also donates one per cent of its gross annual revenues to trusted environmental organizations.”Sustainability also means being financially intelligent, paying a living wage and making sure people are living well, on all fronts,” Thiel says.
William Roman, above, third-generation beekeeper and general manager at Rosewood Winery, blends tradition with innovation — crafting honey wines and sustainable vintages that reflect the land, the bees and the people who care for both. Photos by Rob Anzit.
No blurred lines at Rosewood
Terms such as “organic” and “natural” often blur the line between genuine sustainability and greenwashing. William Roman, third generation beekeeper and Rosewood Winery & Meadery’s general manager, says true sustainability is tangible and measurable. “Sustainability is about balancing what you put into the business, and what you get out of it. If we track our metrics over time, we can see what’s really working.”
For Roman, it’s also personal. With a young daughter at home, he’s driven to build a business that supports not only the current community, but future generations as well. “Wine is a luxury product, not a necessity, so I think it’s important that I’m always considering how to improve our production process.”
Rosewood is unique in its offerings: It produces mead — a fermented beverage made from honey. This ancient process requires no chemical intervention and starts with honey, a naturally renewable ingredient. Rosewood is the first SWO-certified grape and honey winery in the province, and clearly employs expert beekeepers — with experience spanning more than 90 years.
“What makes honey wine special is there are thousands of varieties possible…you can use any kind of honey to ferment into a varietal honey wine, and pair it with other fruits or flavour profiles,” Roman says. “It’s also an incredible escape for creativity and innovation because there are very few preconceived consumer biases. Their expectations are open.”
Sustainability as a way of life
From Jordan to Vineland and Beamsville to Niagara-on-the-Lake, wineries such as those described above are preserving the natural beauty of the industry. They’re also creating spectacular outdoor spaces for people to gather, and setting a quality standard.
As 13th Street’s Benjamin Whitty reflects on his family’s farm, he recalls his grandfather’s wisdom: “The farm is like a bank. You can’t just keep making withdrawals — you have to deposit into it. Then the dividends will come.”
And those dividends? They lead to a healthier planet, a thriving farm community and wines worth celebrating.
13th Street Winery
1776 Fourth Ave., St. Catharines
13thstreetwinery.com | 905.984.8463 | @13thstreetwinery
Hidden Bench Estate Winery
4152 Locust Ln., Beamsville
hiddenbench.com | 905.563.8700 | @hiddenbench
Rosewood Winery & Meadery
4352 Mountainview Rd., Lincoln
rosewoodwine.com | 905.563.4383 | @rosewoodwine
Tawse Winery
3955 Cherry Ave., Vineland
tawsewinery.ca | 905.562.9500 | @tawsewinery
Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario
In 2021, Ontario Craft Wineries and Grape Growers of Ontario merged two earlier sustainability initiatives into Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario (SWO) Certified. Launched as an accredited, third-party-audited program in 2017, SWO now certifies wineries and vineyards based on environmental, economic and community standards. With more than 45 wineries and 147 vineyards certified, here are a few more worth visiting:
Dobbin Estate Winery
Nestled in the heart of the Twenty Mile Bench, Dobbin Estate Winery is a certified gem under the SWO program. The vineyard is organically farmed, with protected wetland and woodland areas that preserve the natural ecosystem. Permanent cover crops cool the soil, retain moisture and support carbon capture — hallmarks of regenerative agriculture. In the cellar, a minimal-intervention approach lets the Bench’s unique terroir shine.
3403 Eleventh St., Lincoln
dobbinestate.com | @dobbinestate
Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery
Henry of Pelham, a sixth-generation estate winery in the Short Hills Bench, has championed sustainability since 2004. One of the first SWO Certified wineries, it integrates energy-efficient winery design, under-drainage with biofilters, composting systems, habitat corridors and netting for wildlife. Their sustainable “from-vine-to-table” approach secures economy, environment, and community for future generations.
1469 Pelham Rd., St. Catharines
henryofpelham.com | @henryofpelham
Reif Estate Winery
As one of Niagara’s founding family wineries, Reif Estate Winery has been a pioneer in Ontario’s wine industry since 1982. Among the first to achieve SWO certification under the new program, Reif demonstrates enduring leadership in environmental stewardship. The vineyard and winery’s sustainable practices — from cover cropping and hand-harvesting to VQA wine production — reflect a deep, ongoing commitment to responsible winemaking.
15608 Niagara Parkway, Niagara-on-the-Lake
reifwinery.com | @reifestatewinery
