Welcome to the world of climate-smart viticulture, where working with the climate and not against it is the new way forward!

Historically, wine regions and competitions and/or awards have been heavily reliant on recognizing and promoting vitis vinifera (i.e., warm climate) grapes and wines, oftentimes tied to certain geographic regions (also known as appellations or viticulture areas), as there is a long tradition behind warm climate grapes.

Unfortunately, warm climate grapes are also extremely susceptible to diseases and pests, such as downy mildew, powdery mildew, and phylloxera, as well as the cold.  As a consequence, costly and environmentally impactful measures must be taken to protect and sustain warm climate grapevines in cold regions, including extensive spraying programs.

Enter cold climate grapes, which represents modern climate-smart viticulture by growing cold climate grapes that are ideally suited to the conditions. In response to certain environmental realities and climate change, grape-breeding programs have developed grape cultivars that are cold-hardy and disease resistant, and that are making great wine!  

However, the bias in favour of warm climate grapes, and prejudice against cold climate grapes (often referred to pejoratively as “hybrids”, even though vitisvinifera arose from hybrid grapes) is prevalent.

Thus, the purpose of the CCWI is to recognize, celebrate, showcase and promote quality wines made form 100% cold climate grapes grown in areas with cold winters and to provide assurance that the wine is of good quality. 

So, rather than being tied to the traditional warm climate grape view of the world, cold climate wines are embracing a more dynamic approach, by (1) recognizing, celebrating, and promoting wines made from recognized 100% cold climate grapes, (2) grown and vinified in cold regions (i.e., periods of  –20c/-4f or lower in winter), and (3) independently evaluated as being of good quality.

In order to receive CCWI recognition, judges undertake a sensory evaluation of each wine on its merit to determine if it is without unacceptable faults or defects. 

If the cold climate wine meets the criteria for the CCWI, the winery will be permitted to order and apply the CCWI sticker or logo on the approved cold climate wine.

The use of the sticker shows the wine is CCWI recognized, which affords wineries the opportunity to collectively promote the cold climate wine tradition and brand, and provides an opportunity for customers to have confidence they are purchasing a 100% certified cold climate wine.