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Quality and Value
Green Practices
An International Brand
Primero
Cabernet Sauvignon
Syrah
Carmenère
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Carmenère
Pinot Noir
Claret
Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Carmenère
Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay "Un-Oaked"
Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé
Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc
Loud River Roaring Red
Limarí Valley Sauvignon Blanc
Limarí Valley Chardonnay
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Why is this Important?
Committed to Beneficial Environmental Management and Green Practices for a Sustainable World.
Committed to Beneficial Environmental Management and Green Practices for a Sustainable World.
ISO14000 Certification Means Beneficial Environmental Management and Sustainability Our wines are elaborated under an official ISO 14000 certificated process, a rigorous affiliation that required three years to complete.
ISO14000 is an international standard that recognizes and regulates the design, implementation and maintenance of environmental management systems. Viña La Playa is committed to making the most efficient use of energy and raw materials (such as using less water and energy), to reduce our impact on the environment and maintain sustainability over future generations. We strive to be gentle on the land and provide a beneficial habitat for animals and our neighbors, while producing the highest quality, most delicious wines possible.
For example, Viña La Playa is working toward managing our 597 acres of vineyards with completely organic methods, following such Organic Growers Association practices as:
- We utilize virtually no chemicals (Our Chilean landscape, with virtually no natural pests, already allows us to farm without pesticides for harvest, and we utilize only mechanical weed control)
- o We combat mildew with natural sulfur evaporators (Chile, being a drier climate, is naturally protected from from most mildew and molds)
- Many wineries use chlorine to wash tanks; we use boiling water which is then recycled for use in the vineyard. Winery wastewater that is rich in grape skin residue is used as fertilizer.
- Wastewaster is recycled throughout the property, including to irrigate alfalfa fields which in turn feed our property's horses (our vineyard manager prefers to work on horseback, which is more gentle to the soil and ozone than trucks)
- We combat molds with natural grapefruit seed extract
- We repel mites with natural mineral oil
- We control invasive rodents with indigenous owls and falcons
- We fertilize with natural pomace and special bird manure, imported from a northern island known for its superior bird environment producing an extraordinarily rich and abundant diet
- We maintain an enormous compost area for grapes skins and pulp used as fertilizer, and use spent grape stems as covers on our dirt roads because the natural stem cellulose prevents erosion and controls dust
- We grow cover crops to add extra organic matter and natural nitrogen to the soils, plus prevent erosion and control dust while giving the soil better structure to allow water and nutrients to penetrate more easily into the root zone. The cover crops also promote bio diversity among the beneficial bugs and worms living in the vineyard.
- We employ water-saving "California" irrigation practices of watering only at ends and beginnings of rows.
- While wine fermentation adds carbon dioxide to the environment, we take carbon dioxide from the vineyards in a calculated balancing program, and are testing a carbon-neutral program
- We use only native yeast strains, with no genetically modified organisms that are employed by many other wineries
- For our bottling, we utilize a state-of-the-art positive-pressure controlled sealed room which ensures no contaminates get in
- Most of our employees ride their bikes to work
- Our winery is naturally cooled by a water-irrigated roof and louvers for fresh air, rather than energy consuming air conditioning (all water is recycled to a reservoir in the vineyards, for reuse as irrigation).
- All packaging leftovers are recycled, including cardboard, plastic and glass. Any small amount of hazardous materials such as batteries and glass are recycled by a certified waste management company.
We have applied for both American and European organic certification, however, it takes three harvests from the date of application before this designation can be recognized.
ISO9000 Certification Means Quality Control
ISO 9000 is the internationally recognized standard of quality control, as adopted by the world's best companies. Official certification strictly regulates Viña la Playa's adherence to top quality management, our ability to consistently meet customer requirements, and ultimately to achieve total customer satisfaction at the lowest possible cost. This system helps ensure that La Playa delivers your premium wines consistently, reliably, and at excellent value. As one small example: All our corks are code-printed by lot and serial number, for strict monitoring of and accountability for quality control within small batches.
Gaining IS0900 certification is a highly intensive process. We received official certification in 2006, after three years of developing a registered Quality Management System, and are continually working to improve our techniques even further.
We are Working Toward OSHA 18001 Certification
OSHA Certification protects the workplace safety of our employees. We are a leader in the adoption of international OSHA regulations for Chilean enterprise.