Frequently Asked Questions: Certified Wines & Wineries

Why would I choose Food Alliance certification over others?

For over a decade Food Alliance has defined sustainable agricultural and food handling practices with a comprehensive third-party certification program adressing a full range of business and consumer concerns. 

Food Alliance offers the only wine certification to address sustainability holistically, with certification standards and auditing protocols for the vineyards and the winery, and for social as well as environmental issues.

Lumos Wine Company is the first winery to earn Food Alliance Certfication. Owner and vineyard manager Dai Crisp said this about his experience: 

“I’ve managed our vineyards according to organic principles for many years, but Food Alliance addresses the question of labor which isn’t a part of most of the other certification programs out there. You can’t make wine without people in the vineyard. Food Alliance certification recognizes the importance of taking good care of people while also addressing environmental concerns both on the farm and in the winery.”

Additionally, national certification programs such as Green Seal 46 recognize Food Alliance Certified as a resource for implementing sustainable practices in food service.

Where can I see Food Alliance’s certification standards and criteria for wine?

All Food Alliance Certified agricultural operations are inspected using our Whole Farm/Ranch Evaluation Criteria. Growers of Food Alliance Certified grapes are also subject to crop-specific criteria found in the inspection tool for grape production.

Food Alliance Certified wineries are certified using our Handler Criteria.

How does the certification process work, and what does it cost?

Learn more about Food Alliance’s certification standards, the farm/ranch certification process, and fees.

Are there restrictions on additives that can be used in the making of Food Alliance Certified wines?

Our Handler Criteria includes a list of allowed additives and processing aids. We are currenlty developing a list of allowable additives specific to Food Alliance Certified wines.

What are the certification requirements for wine blends that contain some FA certified wine? 

In a given wine, all grapes of the same variety must be Food Alliance Certified. For example, if non-certified Cabernet is combined with certified Cabernet, a Food Alliance Certified seal may not be used. 

In a blended wine with multiple varietals, all the wine of any one varietal must be Food Alliance Certified. For example, in a Cabernet-Merlot blend using Food Alliance Certified Cabernet, 100% of the Cabernet must be Food Alliance Certified. Blended wines can display the Food Alliance Certified seal if the certified varietal is 80% or more of the blended final product. 

A blended wine may also make the claim, "made with Food Alliance Certified wine" if the Food Alliance Certified varietal is at least 50% of the blended final product (however, it may not carry the Food Alliance Certified seal).