Sustainability and green consciousness are an ever-increasing reality in the world and in Chile. This time, Viña Emiliana was named the “Green Company of the Year” during the 2012 Green Awards competition organized by the prestigious English magazine The Drinks Business.

This is the highest category of these awards that cover the world’s wine and spirits industry. The award was granted to the company that best demonstrated its commitment to the environment, its employees, its community, and that has made consistent progress in its business practices to improve its carbon footprint.

Emiliana’s work toward becoming Chile’s only 100% organically managed producer of high quality wines—and one of the largest in the world—has included projects at all levels, from energy efficiency programs to Corporate Social Responsibility activities.

“When we began this project more than a decade ago we were innovators and visionaries, and today we realize that being 100% organic and sustainable from the social, environmental, and economic perspectives is possible. We are tremendously proud to obtain this award and it motivates us to continue working in the same direction,” said José Guilisasti, General Manager of Viña Emiliana.

In addition to this important award, Viña Emiliana also won the “Sustainability Award,” beating out companies from Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Portugal, and elsewhere. This award recognizes the winery’s efforts to achieve better and more efficient sustainable practices.

The 2012 Green Awards ceremony took place on Monday, March 26 in the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel in London. Emiliana’s Commercial Manager, Cristián Rodríguez, accepted the award on behalf of the company.
What began as a dream more than a decade ago is now embodied in a complete portfolio of high quality wines that have received important national and international awards; a winery that adapts to the changing needs of the world’s consumers.

Santiago, January 2012. Viña Emiliana is not only one of the largest organic and biodynamic wineries in Chile and the world; it is also the first to certify all of the wines it produces and to receive two different international fair-trade certifications. The most recent is Fairtrade FLO, which endorses the high standard of Emiliana’s social, economic, and environmental performance.

This certification assures consumers of fair trade products that their purchase contributes to fair economic and social development, especially to the development of social, training, infrastructure, and environmental projects, among others.

Fair trade is part of a commercial network that seeks to achieve greater equity in international trade based on dialogue, transparency, and respect. Through its credible certification system, FLO-CERT contributes to the social and economic development of both growers and workers.

The Fairtrade FLO certification obtained by Viña Emiliana complements the Fair for Life – Social & Fairtrade certification that the winery was granted by the Swiss-based Institute for Marketecology (IMO) in early 2011, which guarantees that human rights are respected during all stages of production and that workers enjoy decent and fair working conditions.

Emiliana is the only Chilean winery to have obtained these two major certifications, which affirm the company’s strong commitment to its workers. It is also worth noting that the winery has implemented several CSR Programs, including one to promote microenterprises among its workers, who are now producers of bio-intensive organic vegetables, natural honey, organic and biodynamic olive oil, eggs and chickens, and alpaca and sheep wool, among other products. This program has enabled Emiliana workers to supplement their income and provide for their own families as well.