INTEGRATED PRODUCTION OF WINE (IPW):
THE SOUTH AFRICAN WINE INDUSTRY’S ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY GUARANTEE
Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) is the environmental sustainability scheme established by the South African wine industry in 1998. The 2000 vintage was the first to be certified under this scheme.
Compliance with the scheme provides buyers with a guarantee that grape production was undertaken with due consideration of the environment, and that the wine was produced in an environmentally responsible manner and is safe for the consumer.
IPW consists of a set of guidelines specifying good agricultural practices related to grape production (farm component), as well as a set of guidelines specifying good manufacturing practices related to wine production (winery component) and packaging activities (bottling activities). Compliance with IPW can be related to the different activities (farm, winery and bottling) separately or in combination.
Compliance with the IPW guidelines is assessed on an annual basis through the completion of a self evaluation questionnaire and is independently audited on a spot check basis.
Certification of compliance falls under the jurisdiction of the Wine and Spirit Board (WSB), with a dedicated IPW office responsible for administering the scheme since its promulgation in 1998 under the Liquor Products Act, 1989.
IPW complies with international wine industry environmental sustainability criteria, including the “Global Wine Sector Environmental Sustainability Principles” as published by the International Federation of Wine and Spirits (FIVS) and the “OIV Guidelines for sustainable vitiviniculture: Production, processing and packaging of products” as published by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV).
Further technical information regarding registration as a member of the scheme, the IPW guidelines, manuals, certification and auditing policies are available from the IPW website at www.ipw.co.za or from the IPW office at 021 889 6555.
Manager: IPW
manager@ipw.co.za
