In the Vineyards & Wineries

ORGANICS AND SUSTAINABILITY

It’s hard to convey the satisfaction of walking into a vineyard where the soil and vines are humming with vitality. It’s a palpable feeling of joy and one we are becoming addicted to as we introduce more sustainable management practices and organics throughout our vineyards and wineries. You can taste it in our wines that increasingly sing of the places they were grown and made.

Here are just a few of the things we are doing to improve the health and vitality of our soils, vineyards and people:

• Inter-row cropping for biodiversity, organic matter, soil improvement, weed control and mulching
• Compost teas – we make our own – for biodiversity and vine health
• Mulching and composting for soil improvement, biodiversity and water saving
• Water harvesting and increased irrigation efficiency
• Integrated pest management
• Reduced use of synthetic chemicals, complete elimination in some sites
• Insectariums for biodiversity and encouragement of beneficial insects
• Mechanical weed control to reduce or eliminate use of herbicides
• Staff training and professional development in organics and sustainable vineyard and winery practices

Packaging and Production

A PROCESS OF CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT

Following a supply chain review, we now work with like-minded suppliers to find new and better ways to improve our practices at every level. We are choosing a lighter footprint for our packaging, dry goods, cartons and merchandise.

Here’s a snapshot on what are working on:

• Trialling new label stocks made from sustainable sources such as sugar cane waste
• Cartons produced using recycled paper stock, biodegradable inks and varnishes
• Transitioning all our cartons to be printed on 100% recycled kraft
• Gift packaging produced with 100% FSC recycled paper, sustainably sourced biodegradable soy oil inks and varnishes
• Minimising unnecessary logistics and freight where possible
• Scheduling bottlings in bulk to minimise waste and energy consumption and increase efficiency
• Exploring lighter-weight alternatives for glass bottles
• Special attention to packing configurations to minimise plastic and single use wrap

Urban Cellar Door

GREENER GIFTING

Some initiatives in place or underway include:

• Recycling our crushed glass bottles in partnership with the EPA
• Re-using Prosecco bottles for water bottles
• Re-using our cardboard wine packaging
• Turning lights off at night, to conserve energy
• Greener gifting - quality gift with purchase items such as eco canteens, reusable chopsticks and straw which encourage reuse rather than contributing to landfill
• Handpicked refillable bottle project
• Switched to bio-degradable food packaging and chemicals

In the Vineyards & Wineries

ORGANICS AND SUSTAINABILITY

It’s hard to convey the satisfaction of walking into a vineyard where the soil and vines are humming with vitality. It’s a palpable feeling of joy and one we are becoming addicted to as we introduce more sustainable management practices and organics throughout our vineyards and wineries. You can taste it in our wines that increasingly sing of the places they were grown and made.

Here are just a few of the things we are doing to improve the health and vitality of our soils, vineyards and people:

• Inter-row cropping for biodiversity, organic matter, soil improvement, weed control and mulching
• Compost teas – we make our own – for biodiversity and vine health
• Mulching and composting for soil improvement, biodiversity and water saving
• Water harvesting and increased irrigation efficiency
• Integrated pest management
• Reduced use of synthetic chemicals, complete elimination in some sites
• Insectariums for biodiversity and encouragement of beneficial insects
• Mechanical weed control to reduce or eliminate use of herbicides
• Staff training and professional development in organics and sustainable vineyard and winery practices

Packaging and Production

A PROCESS OF CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT

Following a supply chain review, we now work with like-minded suppliers to find new and better ways to improve our practices at every level. We are choosing a lighter footprint for our packaging, dry goods, cartons and merchandise.

Here’s a snapshot on what are working on:

• Trialling new label stocks made from sustainable sources such as sugar cane waste
• Cartons produced using recycled paper stock, biodegradable inks and varnishes
• Transitioning all our cartons to be printed on 100% recycled kraft
• Gift packaging produced with 100% FSC recycled paper, sustainably sourced biodegradable soy oil inks and varnishes
• Minimising unnecessary logistics and freight where possible
• Scheduling bottlings in bulk to minimise waste and energy consumption and increase efficiency
• Exploring lighter-weight alternatives for glass bottles
• Special attention to packing configurations to minimise plastic and single use wrap

Urban Cellar Door

GREENER GIFTING

Some initiatives in place or underway include:

• Recycling our crushed glass bottles in partnership with the EPA
• Re-using Prosecco bottles for water bottles
• Re-using our cardboard wine packaging
• Turning lights off at night, to conserve energy
• Greener gifting - quality gift with purchase items such as eco canteens, reusable chopsticks and straw which encourage reuse rather than contributing to landfill
• Handpicked refillable bottle project
• Switched to bio-degradable food packaging and chemicals