TerroirEthical Wine Directory
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Our Methodology

How We Score

Every wine is scored out of 100 across four equal pillars. Scores are researched independently — we accept no payment from producers and never will.

80–100
Great
Leading ethical practices
65–79
Good
Solid but room to improve
0–64
Mixed
Significant gaps remain
🌿
FarmingOut of 25 points

How the grapes are grown. This is the foundation of ethical wine — what happens in the vineyard shapes everything downstream.

22–25Demeter biodynamic certified. Treats the farm as a self-sustaining ecosystem. No synthetic inputs, full lunar calendar farming.
18–21Certified organic (ACO, BioGro, EU Organic, CCOF). No synthetic pesticides, herbicides or fungicides.
12–17Sustainable programme (Entwine, SWNZ, IP, SIP). Reduced synthetic use, third-party audited.
6–11Transitioning to organic or partial organic blocks. No certification yet.
0–5Conventional farming. Synthetic inputs used without significant mitigation.
🏛
WineryOut of 25 points

What happens after harvest. Winemaking and cellar operations have a real footprint — energy, water, packaging and carbon all count.

22–25Carbon neutral or positive certified. 100% renewable energy. Closed-loop water management. Zero waste to landfill.
17–21Solar-powered or renewable energy. Active carbon reduction programme. Water recycling in place.
11–16Sustainability certification (ISO 14001, B Corp, Certified Sustainable). Measurable reduction targets.
5–10Some sustainability initiatives — lightweight bottles, recycling, partial renewable energy.
0–4No disclosed sustainability practices in winery operations.
🤝
PeopleOut of 25 points

How the winery treats its workers and community. The wine industry has a long history of labour issues — we reward transparency and fairness.

22–25Living wage certified. Formal worker ownership or profit-sharing. Active community programmes. Full supply chain transparency.
17–21Above-minimum wages evidenced. Safe working conditions. Gender equity reporting. Community investment.
11–16Industry-standard conditions with some transparency. Family-owned and operated (lower labour risk).
5–10Limited public information but no reported violations. Small producer or estate-grown.
0–4Reported labour issues or no disclosure of working conditions.
🐾
Animal WelfareOut of 25 points

Whether animals are used in or affected by production. Often overlooked, animal welfare is a genuine differentiator between producers.

22–25Vegan Society certified or equivalent. Plant-based fining only. No animals used in any part of production.
17–21Confirmed vegan-friendly (clay, bentonite, pea protein fining). No animal products declared.
11–16Moving toward vegan-friendly. Some animal fining agents still used (egg white in reds, casein in whites).
5–10Traditional fining agents used. Isinglass, egg white, or casein confirmed.
0–4Animal fining confirmed and no transition plan disclosed.

Our independence policy

✓We do not accept payment, gifts, or hospitality from producers we rate.
✓Wineries cannot pay for higher scores, featured placement, or removal from the directory.
✓If a conflict of interest exists, we disclose it or recuse from scoring.
✓All score changes are logged and available on request.

Frequently asked questions

Can wineries pay to improve their score or placement?

No. Scores are entirely independent. Wineries cannot pay for a higher score, a featured placement, or any other advantage on Terroir. We do not accept advertising from producers we rate.

How do you research scores?

We use publicly available certification databases, producer websites, sustainability reports, and direct outreach to wineries. We cross-reference multiple sources and note when information is self-reported rather than third-party verified.

How often are scores updated?

Scores are reviewed annually, or sooner if a winery gains or loses a certification, or if new information comes to light. Wineries can also contact us to request a review.

Can wineries dispute their score?

Yes. If a winery believes their score is incorrect — for example because a certification was missed — they can contact us with evidence and we will review within 30 days.

Why is the maximum 100 if there are four pillars of 25?

Each pillar is worth 25 points, totalling 100. We weight each pillar equally because we believe farming, winery operations, people, and animal welfare are all genuinely important — not one more than another.

Do you rate every wine from a winery or just some?

We rate individual wines, not just wineries. This matters because a winery might farm biodynamically but make some wines with conventional fining agents. Individual wine scores reflect the specific product.

Know a winery we should rate?

We add new producers regularly. Suggest a winery via the waitlist or contact us directly.

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