Integrated Production of Wine (IPW): South Africa's Sustainability Certification

The Scheme for the Integrated Production of Wine was formally published on 6 November 1998, under the Liquor Products Act, 1989, formalising a process already underway in South Africa. A key driver of early adoption was practical: many South African wine producers also farm apples, pears, and plums for export, and UK supermarkets had insisted on integrated production of fruit from the mid-1990s. Lessons from that experience were directly adopted by the wine industry. Technical foundations were developed by the ARC Nietvoorbij Centre for Vine and Wine, whose research team provided the scientific base for the guidelines. The 2000 vintage was the first to be certified, with 1999 used as a preparatory year. From the outset, uptake was extraordinary, with approximately 93% of cellars and more than 99% of farmers joining in 1998.

• Scheme legislation published 6 November 1998; the 2000 vintage was the first certified under IPW
• Adoption driven in part by UK supermarket demands for integrated fruit production practices from South African farms in the mid-1990s
• Technical base developed by the ARC Nietvoorbij Centre for Vine and Wine, using the latest viticulture and oenology research
• Sustainable Wine South Africa (SWSA) is the promotional alliance between the WSB, the IPW scheme, and Wines of South Africa (WoSA)

Certification of IPW compliance falls under the jurisdiction of the Wine and Spirit Board (WSB), a statutory body appointed by the Minister of Agriculture, with a dedicated IPW office responsible for the scheme. The WSB runs two certification systems: the Wine of Origin (WO) scheme and IPW. After wide consultation, a joint voluntary seal covering both WO and IPW became available from the 2010 harvest. To qualify for the joint seal, every link in the supply chain, from the farm through the winery to the bottling plant, must be IPW accredited. Compliance is assessed annually through a self-evaluation questionnaire and is independently audited by auditors appointed by the WSB on a random, spot-check basis over a three-year cycle.

• Administered by the Wine and Spirit Board (WSB) under the Liquor Products Act, 1989
• Joint Wine of Origin and IPW sustainability seal available from the 2010 harvest; in 2024, 88% of certified wines qualified to carry it
• To use the seal, 100% of the fruit and every link in the production chain must be IPW accredited
• Independent auditors appointed by the WSB audit farms and wineries on a random basis over a three-year cycle

IPW consists of guidelines specifying good agricultural practices for grape production (farm component), good manufacturing practices for wine production (winery component), and packaging activities (bottling component). Key elements of the farm guidelines include prohibitions on unregistered chemicals, requirements that withholding periods for agrochemicals not be exceeded, and mandates that no non-permitted residues be present in grapes. The introduction of natural predators in vineyards is encouraged. Guidelines also address water-use registration, environmental impact assessments for virgin soil cultivation, waste management, and the safe handling and disposal of agrochemicals. Cellar guidelines address wastewater treatment, cooling system refrigerants, packaging waste, and energy-related environmental measures.

• No unregistered agrochemicals may be used; withholding periods must not be exceeded; no non-permitted residues may be present in grapes
• Introduction of natural predators in vineyards is an encouraged integrated pest management practice
• All water use must be registered with the Department of Water Affairs; environmental impact assessments required for cultivation of virgin soil
• Cellar and bottling guidelines address waste sorting and recycling, wastewater compliance, and use of environmentally responsible cooling systems

South Africa's Cape wine regions sit within the Cape Floristic Region, one of six recognised floral kingdoms of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 2004. The region is home to approximately 9,000 vascular plant species, of which around 69% are endemic, and has been identified as one of the world's leading biodiversity hotspots. IPW farm guidelines actively address biodiversity protection, covering the management of fynbos and renosterveld vegetation, alien invasive plant control, fire management, and the maintenance of natural habitat buffers alongside vineyards. The WWF Conservation Champion programme, formerly the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI), operates alongside IPW as a voluntary membership model requiring producers to achieve at least 70% in IPW scoring and adhere to additional biodiversity conservation principles.

• The Cape Floristic Region is home to around 9,000 plant species, approximately 69% of which are endemic, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• IPW farm guidelines include requirements for alien vegetation control, fire management in fynbos ecosystems, and natural habitat buffer zones between vineyards and pristine areas
• The WWF Conservation Champion programme requires members to score 70% or more in IPW and adhere to additional biodiversity and regenerative farming principles
• IPW guidelines reference Critical Biodiversity Areas and Ecological Support Areas identified by CapeNature to guide land-use planning on wine estates

While IPW focuses specifically on environmental sustainability, South Africa's broader sustainable wine framework addresses social responsibility through complementary bodies. WIETA, the Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trading Association, is a unique organisation: South Africa is the only wine-producing country in the world with an independent body focused exclusively on promoting ethical standards across its wine industry value chain. WIETA audits cover fair wages, safe working conditions, and worker empowerment. South Africa is also the world's largest producer of Fairtrade wine, accounting for around two thirds of global Fairtrade wine sales, with 24 producer organisations covering approximately 70 farms and nearly 3,000 workers.

• WIETA is an independent body promoting ethical trade and fair labour practices in the South African wine industry value chain, with around 1,000 certified members
• A WIETA Fair Labour Certification Seal for wine packages was introduced in 2012, covering producers, growers, cellars, and bottling facilities
• South Africa is the world's largest producer of Fairtrade wine, accounting for approximately two thirds of global Fairtrade wine sales
• IPW guidelines require compliance with all legislation related to the health and safety of workers and the correct handling and disposal of agrochemicals

IPW's combination of rigorous self-assessment, independent auditing, and supply-chain traceability makes it one of the most verifiable sustainability schemes in the world wine industry. South Africa is described as the only country that audits producers so rigorously on sustainability as a prerequisite for a wine seal appearing on the bottle. The scheme complies with internationally recognised frameworks, including the FIVS Global Wine Sector Environmental Sustainability Principles and the OIV Guidelines for Sustainable Viti-viniculture. The joint WO and IPW seal on the bottle neck allows consumers to verify the wine's origin, variety, vintage, and sustainable production credentials online using unique seal numbers, linking back to the SAWIS records at pressing. This transparency increasingly resonates with European and export market buyers who require documented sustainability credentials.

• South Africa is the only country in the world that makes sustainability auditing a prerequisite for a certification seal appearing on the wine bottle
• IPW complies with FIVS Global Wine Sector Environmental Sustainability Principles and OIV Guidelines for Sustainable Viti-viniculture
• The unique numbers on each WSB seal allow consumers and buyers to trace the wine online all the way back to the vineyard of origin
• The SWSA alliance of WSB, IPW, and WoSA promotes South Africa's certified sustainable wine credentials in international markets