Wine o’ the times
Conscious Selections in Wine
You may have noticed that our Wine Department’s selections have recently changed. In the past few months, our Merchandising Team has done some important “housekeeping” of the various varietals on our shelves.
Our discovery
Wine is complicated – and not as straightforward as standard grocery items that go through the “conventional” channels, if you will, of purchasing through our distributors like UNFI or other vendors. What we discovered as we combed through the department’s selections was that not only was there an overwhelming number of vendors being used for a section that constitutes roughly only 3% of total co-op sales, but that many of these wines weren’t aligned with our values as we would have liked them to be, particularly regarding pesticide use.
THE CHANGES
So, we set to work on two fronts. The first was to articulate what we were looking for in our wines, just as definitively as we do for every other department in the store. The second was the massive vetting process of the department itself.
The result is what you see now. A carefully curated wine set that is in line with our Merchandising Policy in spirit as much as it is “on paper.”
And what are the attributes of these wines that we now carry? It’s fairly simple and boils down similarly to other departments’ criteria. So, wine producers must now meet any of the following criteria:
- Be certified Organic, Biodynamic, or make wine with Regeneratively Grown grapes.
- Be working toward organic certification but may not yet be certified due to geographical constraints or funding. These producers adhere to high standards, including fair labor practices.
- Are produced by global majority or woman-owned enterprises. These producers also adhere to high standards, including fair labor practices.
We are thrilled about this transition, and we hope you are too! Cheers to big changes in the Wine Department at BriarPatch!
We care about the little things
See all our meticulous considerations we put into what goes on our shelves so you don’t have to worry about quality, processes, practices and ingredients that might be harmful to people or our planet.
Products BriarPatch Seeks to Sell
- Produce and products produced using sustainable and regenerative farming and ranching practices including organically grown agriculture and products on their way to being certified organic
- Products from companies that raise or treat animals humanely
- Products that are locally produced and/or locally grown
- Products with minimal, recycled or recyclable packaging
- Products from companies that are committed to fair labor practices and are socially responsible, including those that pay their employees equitably and/or have hiring practices that promote diversity and inclusion
- Foods that have no artificial additives
- Products free of GMOs, including those verified by 3rd parties such as Non-GMO Project Verified
- Dairy and meat raised using regenerative pratices, without growth hormones, rBHSt, or GMO feed
- Wellness products free of harmful ingredients
- We seek to sell products from businesses owned by or who employ those who have been systemically and culturally oppressed in American history, particularly People of Color and the LGBTQIA+ community
Products BriarPatch Will Not Sell
- Products with shelf-packaging made from Styrofoam (shipping and packaging materials are an exception when no alternative is available)
- Products from companies that use animals for testing
- Irradiated products
- Processed tobacco products
- Products from companies with known human rights violations or animal abuse
Across every department in our store, we emphasize foods that are nutritious, minimally processed, organically grown, free of artificial additives and grown or produced in ways that support good health and welfare for people, animals and the environment. Download our Merchandising Policy for the full details.