Organic – Sustainable – Fairtrade

Intense Wines & fairtrade

Intense Wines is a member of the Fairtrade Labeling Organization (FLO), the global umbrella organization of Fairtrade. This means that, as a company, we are licensed to purchase wines from vintners and wine cooperatives that are supervised by FLO.

But what is Fairtrade and what does it mean for our way of making wine?

These winegrowers receive a fair income from their winemaking that enables them, and their children, to develop further. FLO also provides, where necessary, education and development programs for the benefit of the winemaker and the wines.

To qualify for Fairtrade as a winemaker, you must meet strict qualitative guidelines. Fairtrade strictly monitors, for example, the use of chemical agents in the vineyard. Many Fairtrade winemakers are therefore (almost) entirely organic.

INTENSE WINES & ORGANIC

Intense Wines is affiliated with Skal Organic check. They ensure that all organic imports and produced products meet all requirements.

Organic vineyards use natural and sustainable methods to grow grapes and produce wine. These methods include the use of natural fertilizers, pest control techniques and environmentally friendly practices that minimize the use of synthetic chemicals and other harmful substances. However, organic farming is more than just not using synthetic chemicals anymore. It is about using nature’s model at every stage of the process, from planting to harvesting.

In conventional (non-organic), insects are driven out by the use of pesticides, which are harmful to the land. Organic producers control harmful insects by luring the natural enemy, e.g., predatory insects such as wasps to their crops by planting certain flowers or plants.

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Sustainable agriculture adheres to the principle of “People, planet & profit.” Sustainable development is about not only doing well economically (profit), but also reducing environmental pressure (planet). Consider, for example, emissions from the use of fertilizers and pesticides to soil, water and air. It is also important how economical agriculture is with resources such as water, electricity and gas. Low environmental pressure and economical use are good for biodiversity. This type of agriculture is also called “integrated agriculture.” The social side of sustainable agriculture (people) is mainly in issues such as employment, affordable and safe food, animal welfare and landscape. But it also includes fighting hunger, as an important goal for developing countries.

The term “sustainable” in the context of sustainable agriculture can be difficult because there is no overarching controlling body or rules (yet) that define exactly what sustainable agriculture is. This can lead to confusion and debate about what practices should be considered “sustainable” and how to measure the success of sustainable agriculture initiatives.

Fortunately, more and more countries are anticipating this and have established rules in a label for sustainable viticulture.

Chile; Wines of Chile Sustainability Code

South Africa; Integrity & Sustainability Seal

France; Haute Valeur Environmental & Terra Vitis

IS FAIRTRADE THE SAME AS ORGANIC?

In principle, fair trade wines are always organic because organic farming is part of the certification. But suppose there is an extreme insect infestation, or a huge amount of rain falls, the entire harvest can be affected. No harvest = no income.

In these exceptional cases, we can intervene with a non-organic, degradable product to ensure that the harvest is saved.

If we opt for this emergency intervention, we naturally ensure that no residue of these agents can ever be found. Not in nature but also not in the wine itself.

So Fairtrade goes much further than a fair and livable income. It is about a sustainable survival of the people working with their families in and around the vineyards.

Intense Wines & B-corp

B-Corp stands for Benefit Corporation. It is a certification awarded to companies that not only want to earn financially on it, but also care that employees and the environment gain something from it. This is tested against strict standards of social, environmental performance and transparency. Intense Wines is proud to be among many fine companies since 2022.

Intense Wines deals honestly with its producers and tries to make the most sustainable choice in everything, so we choose lightweight bottles, reduce our carbon footprint and have set up our own 2Blossom foundation.

WITH CERTIFICATIONS…

One of the ways we can be transparent is through certification.

We have our company independently tested, vetted, analyzed and inspected,

so we can show that we are indeed doing what we claim.

We do this through:

B-Corp

Since 2022, Intense Wines is the first Dutch winemaker and trading company to be B Corp-certified. B Corp is a network of companies that see it as their mission to transform the global economy in a way that benefits all people, communities and the planet. B Corp’s motto is Make Business a Force For Good, and we couldn’t agree more;

SKAL ORGANIC CHECK

As a company, we are certified every year by Skal Organic check. Skal ensures that the products imported and manufactured by us meet all requirements to be allowed to carry the designation “organic”, and that they may be sold under the EKO label;

IFS

Intense Wines is IFS certified: IFS provides a seal of quality, allowing us to demonstrate that we meet all requirements in the field of exports as well;

Fairtrade

Intense Wines is affiliated with the Fairtrade Labeling Organization (FLO), the global umbrella organization of Max Havelaar Fair Trade. This means that, as a company, we are licensed to purchase wines from winemakers and wine cooperatives overseen by FLO.

Our winegrowers receive a fair income from their winemaking which enables them, and their families, to develop further. FLO also provides, where appropriate, education and development programs for the benefit of the winemaker and the wines;

WIETA

Intense Wines works in South Africa with wineries affiliated with WIETA, the Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trade Association.

Founded with the goal of promoting ethical trade, WIETA seeks fair treatment of, respectful partnerships with, and dignified lives for workers, and a transformed agricultural sector.

...AND WITH OUR MORAL COMPASS

Certificates don’t say everything, and we set the bar rather high. That’s why we mainly follow our own moral compass. Sometimes certain cultivation methods can be considered “organic,” but we don’t think it’s “organic enough”. Then we go one step further. And in South Africa, we go even further, with our foundation 2Blossom.