FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Grape to Glass to Green
“A Sustainable Wine Journey”
by Rebecca L. Lucore
November 14, 2024
The holidays are so close. Many of us are already making our holiday menus and food lists or starting some early shopping for gifts. If you’re not quite there yet, and just trying to hold on to fall, you’re still reminded that the holidays are close every time you visit a store.
As we think about the tasks we have to do these next several weeks, many are thinking about that shopping a little differently. More and more consumers are increasingly prioritizing sustainability in their consumption practices and are even willing to pay more for those items that leave less impact on the earth. This means for the food that we buy for those bountiful brunches, those tiny trinkets for our stockings, or even for those delicious drinks we pour in our best holiday stemware.
A nice bottle of wine is not only a great gesture for a holiday host, or as a gift for that favorite coworker, but also to toast a formal family meal. I had the pleasure of catching up with two winemakers who are producing some amazing wine for all those occasions, but wine that’s also on a sustainability journey. Their company is 3SAPAS and this is their story.
3SAPAS History and Mission
Arnaud Frésard traveled to Buenos Aires in 2017 as part of a study exchange program. He never thought he would literally plant roots there. While on a trip to Mendoza, he met a fellow countryman who introduced him to the fascinating world of wineries, and he never looked back. His interest in, and knowledge of, the world of wine grew, and years later, with the addition of his brother Florian, the dream of a winemaking business took shape. The winery’s name, 3SAPAS, is an acronym for "three Swiss at the foot of the Andes," with the third member of the trio being Gibbs, the family dog.
“We created 3SAPAS with the purpose to ‘raise to share’, inspiring people to live and drink consciously, giving them the opportunity to celebrate the earth’s generosity in every glass. We achieve this through a sustainable philosophy committed to the land, caring for each step of the production process, and promoting mindfulness toward others and the planet. The result is wines crafted with care, dedication, and environmental commitment, not only bringing flavor and good times to each toast but also helping everyone make their purchase a positive contribution to the planet,” said 3SAPAS CEO and President (co-owner) Arnaud Frésard.
Sustainability From End to End
Their small team is involved in the entire wine process end to end, including the growing, packaging, and land protection, all while applying their philosophy at each stage of the process. “Our vineyard is in organic transition, meaning it’s in the process of shifting from conventional to certified organic farming practices. This transition phase typically lasts around three years, during which the vineyard must adhere to organic farming methods, though the wines produced cannot yet be labeled as organic,” said Frésard. “Producing sustainable wine involves more machine and manual labor than conventional vineyards, such as removing weeds, which conventional vineyards typically handle with chemical products.” 3SAPAS also uses local solar plants to source their energy and works tirelessly to preserve the biodiversity around the vineyard.
Head of Marketing and Sales Jonas Lépine said, “We also use eco-conscious packaging, with lightweight glass bottles, recyclable cork made from sugar cane grown in Argentina (eliminating the need to import from Portugal), and recycled paper for the wine labels.” He further explained, “When it comes to sustainability, it’s a balance between using appropriate eco-friendly materials with consumer expectations for beautiful eye-catching labels and bottles.”
The process doesn’t end once the bottles are shipped to distributers. Their sustainability journey continues as they "close the loop/the cycle" by planting one tree for every bottle sold in areas impacted by deforestation. Over its lifetime, a tree offsets the carbon footprint of more than 1,000 bottles of wine. Besides off-setting carbon, trees enhance biodiversity, purify the air, and clean water. 3SAPAS works to distribute and plant the trees with trusted NGOs.
Challenges and Opportunities
Like any process or product when it comes to being more sustainable, operating costs are higher for a sustainable vineyard. One of 3SAPAS main challenges is effectively communicating their practices, values, and benefits so that consumers understand the added value and are willing to pay the higher price needed to keep the business sustainable.
Their strategy is to be sustainable from end to end with goals driving the lowest possible impact on the environment – goals like offsetting more than they emit and reducing their carbon footprint to less than zero (they strive to achieve carbon negativity in the years to come). “It is important for us to make a positive contribution to the planet, making each bottle an act of generosity and inviting everyone to be part of a movement that values and protects the beauty of our world,” commented Lépine. He added, “The opportunity we see lies in the perceptions and expectations of consumers, especially among younger generations. The wine industry is relatively conservative and changes very slowly, and we see a great opportunity to position ourselves here. The warm reception and success we've enjoyed across our markets reinforces our belief that consumers are seeking more quality wines with a meaningful mission.”
3SAPAS wines are currently distributed in Argentina, the United States, Europe, and Thailand. To learn more about this sustainable company, visit www.3sapas.com.
For those interested in PA, our wines are also available online on: Store - Bello Vino
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