Viña Caliterra receives first carboNZero certification in Chile

By Jo Gilbert

Published: 04 January, 2017

Viña Caliterra has become the first winery in Chile to gain a sustainability certificate for their efforts to reduce harmful greenhouse gases.

The winery has been given the stamp of approval under carboNZero programme, which is one of the world's first internationally accredited greenhouse gas (GHG) certification schemes.

The certification is the first to be awarded to a Chilean winery, whose wines are available through Hatch Mansfield in the UK.

Rodrigo Zamorano, chief winemaker at Viña Caliterra said: "Here at Caliterra we are committed to protecting the environment around our vineyards. To achieve this recognition and be the first winery in Chile to do so is an honour and reinforces our commitment to sustainable winegrowing and our strong alliance with nature. "Through measuring and mitigating our carbon footprint we will continue to do all we can to improve Caliterra's ecosystem and ultimately that of our country."

Caliterra, which was established in 1996, owns 1,313 hectares of woodland.

The certification is awarded to wineries which demonstrate a commitment to sustainable viticultural practices and efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

It covers all activities that take place both in the vineyards and winery as well as during distribution within Chile and abroad.

This enables Caliterra to obtain certification without needing to buy carbon credits - a permit which allows a country or organisation to produce a certain amount of carbon emissions.

The name Caliterra is taken from 'Calidad', Spanish for quality, and 'Tierra', meaning land.

Their emphasis is on making produce environmentally friendly, quality wines in the Colchagua Valley.

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