Green wine a winner with consumers

Wineries moving towards a sustainable practice on-farm are reaping the rewards of their investment.

Wendy and Natasha Killeen, Stanton and Killeen Wines, who have implemented a number of sustainable farming practices and are reaping the rewards. Picture: Supplied

A growing thirst for certified sustainable wines is driving on-farm investment in water efficiencies, energy reduction and emissions.

And winemakers are reaping the benefits, with some producers making wine of a higher quality than previous vintages while reducing their power bills.

Stanton and Killeen Wines general manager Natasha Killeen said investing in efficiency and sustainable practices was a “no-brainer”, as consumer taste for sustainably branded wines was growing.

“We’re putting a lot of effort into changing and growing these positive changes, and it’s good to know the consumer is interested,” Ms Killeen said.

Stanton and Killeen wines will bear the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia trust mark from this year onwards: a label achieved only after an independent audit against The Freshcare Australian Wine Industry Standards of Sustainable Practice.

Stanton and Killeen Wines produces about 15,000 cases of wine a year.

Since investing in a number of sustainability measures on the vineyard and in the winery – including installation of a 54kw solar system and insulation jackets on temperature-controlled tanks – total farm emissions have dropped 44 per cent, while electricity use has dropped 26 per cent, and power costs have reduced by 44 per cent.

“It’s the big picture: resources, labour, time, and money,” Ms Killeen said.

“We’ve just started vintage at the moment, and so far everything is working so smoothly, and the quality of wine is much better.”

Ms Killeen said the journey from conventional wine production to sustainable could take about five years.

“Some businesses can be hesitant, they may think it’s a lot of investment straight up, but if it’s part of your values and core reasons, it’s a no-brainer,” Ms Killeen said.

Growing customer preference for wines produced in a sustainable fashion is driving some producers to change their on-farm practices. Picture: Supplied

More than 240 wine labels in Australia bear the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification mark, according to the latest Sustainable Winegrowing Australia report, catering to the reported 65 per cent of Australian drinkers opting for sustainably made wines when purchasing a bottle.