Top 10 wine tips for an ethical Christmas

Christmas is renowned as a time for over-indulgence, however with these top 10 wine tips for an ethical Christmas, you can be good to yourself, whilst doing your bit for the environment too.

Top Tips

1. Buy wine made from organically-grown grapes. It is better for the environment and better for you – it tastes great too.

2. Use your car less. Did you know driving just a few miles in your car uses more CO2 than shipping a bottle of wine from the other side of the world.

3. Yes to jute bags, no to plastic carrier bags.

4. Order some local English wine – there are some very good ones now!

5. Recycle your packaging as much as possible. Cardboard cartons can be used in compost heaps. Glass bottles should be recycled.

6. Garages are great for chilling wine in winter, no need to use the fridge! Refrigeration is a significant contributor to CO2 emissions during the lifecycle of a wine bottle from grape to glass.

7. Adopt the ‘quality not quantity’ approach to wine and drink responsibly.

8. Nominate a driver if you are going to a party and you want to enjoy a glass or two.

9. If you have a choice between a Fairtrade and a non-Fairtrade wine, go for the Fairtrade as it guarantees a fair wage to the workers.

10. Champagne can be bought this Christmas and stored in a cool, dark place for next Christmas when it will taste creamier and more biscuity. Good organic Champagne is not easy to find, so visit Ethicalwine.com for more information.