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Obtaining Terra Vitis certification

Terra Vitis is the result of the work of winegrowers who are keen to promote and enhance good practice within a sustainable wine industry. It is the only national certification specific to winegrowing recognised by the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

It is based on an exhaustive and demanding set of specifications, drawn up by members working in the field, with full knowledge of the realities of the sector.

For grape farmers and winegrowers, Terra Vitis certification is a guarantee that their daily work is recognised and valued by those involved in the sector, and by consumers.

For wine retailers and restaurateurs all the way through to consumers, the Terra Vitis logo on a wine bottle is a mark of safety and quality. It guarantees regular and rigorous checks as well as product traceability from start to finish.

certification terra vitis

Key points

  • Drawn up by and for winegrowers: common sense and field knowledge guide the drafting of the specifications.
  • The fruit of a pioneering approach, and a commitment made over 25 years ago.
  • The only national certification for sustainable viticulture, based on the pillars of sustainability.
  • Recognised by the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food: a quality guarantee for consumers, and recognition of our members’ work and commitment.
Terra Vitis is a certification for sustainable winegrowers who strive to work well, and to do better.

What Terra Vitis certifies

Terra Vitis certification is based on precise specifications related to the following five key points:

  • Product traceability – our approach is completely transparent;
  • Exhaustiveness – our approach is global, from vine to wine glass, based on the three pillars of sustainable development;
  • Reason – our approach is pragmatic and consistent;
  • Progress – our specifications evolve;
  • Interaction – we value the sharing of ideas, experience and best practice.

guarantees the commitment of grape farmers and winegrowers to respect for the environment, society  and the economic sustainability of wine estates.
It is also a guarantee of transparency and traceability for consumers, making it easy for them to find information about product provenance and certification requirements.

Terra Vitis is a certification which applies to the estate and its wines, at all stages of production.

It is not limited to certifying that the grapes were farmed responsibly: we inspect the entire estate where they were grown and ensure that it meets our specifications.

certification terra vitis
certification terra vitis

What our specifications cover

Our specifications are an essential part of the Terra Vitis certification. They cover all the requirements that a wine grower has to meet in order to obtain certification for the wines of the current vintage.

In addition to being a transparent and measurable evaluation grid for certification, the specifications are also a complete guide for winegrowers wanting to progress towards exemplary management of their estate.

Currently, the Terra Vitis specifications include nearly 80 check points. These standards have been built and expanded around the fundamental pillars of sustainable development, taking into account scientific and technical progress, feedback from the field, and obligations linked to the recognition of the certification by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

It is a complete document, made by and for winegrowers, and compliance with it guarantees the commitment of winegrowers in three main areas:

Preservation of the environment

We are committed to protecting biodiversity and preserving the natural balance between natural and farmed environments, and to limiting our interventions.
Find out more

Social responsibility

We inspect the working conditions in the vineyard, the respect of sanitary protocols and the traceability of the product, from vine to wine glass
Find out more

Economic sustainability

We work to ensure the resilience of the vineyards via a comprehensive, pragmatic and carefully-designed approach that takes into account all aspects of viticulture.
Find out more
certification terra vitis

How audits are carried out

Each estate wishing to obtain or maintain its Terra Vitis certification is audited either by the local Terra Vitis association or by an approved independent body (Afnor, Certipaq or Ocacia).
The auditor verifies strict compliance with the specifications according to a defined audit and submits the conclusions to the association, which decides on a case-by-case basis for each estate.
Certification is annual, which means that an inspection is carried out every year and that a estate can lose its certification if it no longer complies with the specification requirements.

is demanding and brings structure. It aims first and foremost to support winegrowers who wish to engage in a process of continuous improvement by offering them a complete and practical guide.
The approach is part of a system which guides and supports winegrowers on a daily basis, to enhance the value of their work and their wines.
The Terra Vitis certification requirements are a solid guarantee for consumers of wine quality and production. Traceability is one of the pillars of our specifications, meaning that the wine’s’ path can be followed from vine to wine glass.

Joining Terra Vitis

If you want your wines and your commitment to be recognised by joining Terra Vitis, these are the steps to follow to obtain Terra Vitis certification.

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Becoming a member of a regional association

If you wish to join the Terra Vitis network and be certified, the first step is to become a member of the nearest regional association by contacting us.

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Help with implementing necessary actions

You will be directed to the relevant contacts in order to take the steps necessary for your future certification, and to prepare the compliance audit.

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Compliance audit by an independent body

The conformity audit is carried out by an independent and approved certification body, following the applicable audit plan.

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Decision taken by the association

Our technical commission makes its decision for each application and confirms or denies certification

illustration vignes
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Training and/or business audit

Once your membership has been confirmed, the regional association you have joined will plan a training session and/or an audit of your estate.

The aim of this training is to help you better understand the requirements of the Terra Vitis specifications and make it easier to meet them.

logo 4

Compliance audit

You will be visited by the coordinator (or an authorised auditor) who will carry out the audit of your business. The auditor will check that the requirements of the specifications are met and will notify you of any shortcomings. You then have a few weeks to comply in order to be certified.

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Audit report sent to Terra Vitis

We receive the auditor’s report which confirms compliance with the specifications, or details any shortcomings.

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Certification

If the decision is favourable, you will receive your certification for the current vintage and can use the Terra Vitis brand on your products.

If the decision is favourable you will receive your certification for the current vintage and can use the Terra Vitis brand on your wines.

logo 1

Becoming a member of a regional association

If you wish to join the Terra Vitis network and be certified, the first step is to become a member of the nearest regional association by contacting us.

logo 2

Training and/or business audit

Once your membership has been confirmed, the regional association you have joined will plan a training session and/or an audit of your estate.

The aim of this training is to help you better understand the requirements of the Terra Vitis specifications and make it easier to meet them.

logo 3

Help with implementing necessary actions

You will be directed to the relevant contacts in order to take the steps necessary for your future certification, and to prepare the compliance audit.

logo 4

Compliance audit

You will be visited by the coordinator (or an authorised auditor) who will carry out the audit of your business. The auditor will check that the requirements of the specifications are met and will notify you of any shortcomings. You then have a few weeks to comply in order to be certified.

logo 5

Compliance audit by an independent body

The conformity audit is carried out by an independent and approved certification body, following the applicable audit plan.

logo 6

Audit report sent to Terra Vitis

We receive the auditor’s report which confirms compliance with the specifications, or details any shortcomings.

logo 7

Decision taken by the association

Our technical commission makes its decision for each application and confirms or denies certification

logo 8

Certification

If the decision is favourable, you will receive your certification for the current vintage and can use the Terra Vitis brand on your products.

If the decision is favourable you will receive your certification for the current vintage and can use the Terra Vitis brand on your wines.

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