Today, Australian Vintage announces the certification of all its owned and operated vineyards by Sustainable Winegrowing Australia.
As a major vineyard owner in Australia, with over 2,600 hectares of vineyards, the company cultivates and sources premium grapes from renowned Australian wine regions, including the Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills in South Australia, Hunter Valley in New South Wales, Murray Darling in Victoria/New South Wales, and the Riverland region of South Australia. Australian Vintage’s brands include Tempus Two, Nepenthe, McGuigan Wines, and Barossa Valley Wine Company.
The rigorous certification process was conducted by external auditors, the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia (NASAA) and Sci-Qual International.
Jurie Germishuys, Senior Viticulture Manager at Australian Vintage, said, “The SWA certification supports Australian Vintage in progressing our sustainability roadmap – incorporating regenerative agriculture practices and monitoring impact. Across our vineyards, we’ve installed soil moisture probes that allow us to water when required, preventing excess water use and soil erosion, as well as replacing machinery and equipment with energy-efficient alternatives like our electric forklifts. We’ll continue to investigate native plant species to increase biodiversity and attract beneficial insects.”
Germishuys adds, “The certification is a great achievement of our operations and viticulture teams at each site and the business as a whole as we formalize our approach and commitment to sustainable winemaking. It’s important we do good – for the land, our business, and future generations.”
Sustainable Winegrowing Australia promotes ongoing improvement in various critical aspects, including water efficiency, renewable energy sources, protecting land and soils, waste management, biodiversity and nurturing people and community.
Dr Mardi Longbottom, Manager of Sustainability and Viticulture at the Australian Wine Research Institute, who oversees the technical aspects of the program, said, “We are encouraged by the momentum and increasing ambition of our growing membership and are confident we will achieve world-leading recognition. By purchasing wines from a certified producer, consumers can feel confident that they’re supporting sustainable-minded growers and winemakers, who are on a journey to shape the Australian wine community for good.”
Recent data indicates that 65% of Australian wine drinkers express a preference for sustainably made wine, while 54% of global wine drinkers exclusively trust sustainable wine that holds official certification.
