DAN WINE BLOG- ENVIRONMENTAL STEPS

Friday, June 30, 2023

?Here are a few little steps forward that the wine industry is taking in relation to the biggest issue facing mankind – Climate Change.

?SWEDEN:?“Systembolaget”, the government organisation (monopoly) that controls alcohol sales in Sweden, has announced that as from March 2024 there will be upper limits to the weight allowed for wine bottles, with a view to achieving the reduction of their environmental footprint by 50%, by the year 2030 and becoming carbon neutral by 2045.

?The initial limits are 750gms for 750mL table wine bottles and 950gms for sparkling wine bottles. It is believed that these limits will be further lowered in future.

?In addition to this they are strongly recommending that suppliers convert to alternative packaging including: cans, pouches, small casks (bag in box) and recycled plastic bottles.

?McLAREN VALE:?Having achieved the milestone of being 100-years-old, McLaren Vale stalwart and family owned, d’Arenberg Wines, has under the tutelage of its eccentric marketing genius, Chester Osborne, become one of the most creative wine companies in Australia – from the construction of the unique, “Cube”, through to its bohemian and often unpronounceable wine names such as “The Athazagoraphobic Cat” (Sagrantino Cinsaut).

?Recently, it has achieved Sustainable Wine Growing Australia (SWGA) certification. SWGA is a national program that supports the Australian wine industry in achieving world-leading sustainability practices in terms of environmental, social and economic parameters. ?Furthermore, they have set themselves the goal of achieving carbon net-zero certification by 2035 – some 15 years earlier than the national target.

?The company’s sustainability commitment can be seen in many of their ongoing practices, for example, using organic and biodynamic practices as well as using traditional winemaking and maintaining biodiversity on the property.

?FRANCE:?As I have written before, some French wine growing regions, Champagne and Bordeaux are (ever so slowly) allowing new PIWI (disease resistant) grape varieties to be planted so as to, in the long-term, drastically reduce the number of times a vineyard has to be sprayed against moulds. So far the approved new varieties such as Voltis, are restricted to around 5% of the vineyards BUT it is a strong positive step in an ultra-conservative, “Old World” wine country.

?NEW ZEALAND:?The Kiwis are busy setting up the Plant & Food Research Experimental Future Vineyard at the New Zealand Wine Centre, Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, a 600sqm purpose built facility that will allow them to generate potential climactic conditions and work out how best to cope with them so that they don’t adversely affect the NZ wine industry.

?The facility which will be operational from next year will enable them to study a variety of temperature, soil and moisture scenarios and ascertain how they would/will affect grape vines, especially Sauvignon Blanc, which makes up nearly 50% of NZ wine production.

?AUSTRIA:?As I have reported previously the concept of refillable wine bottles has been thriving in Austria for over a decade, in the Styrian region of Austria. The distinctive refillable bottle is currently being used by just over 300 wineries and there are some 430+ return sites where the bottle can be dropped off for washing/sanitising and re-use.

?Towards the end of July, Austria’s Dr Ingrid Winter will be doing a Zoom presentation on this successful program at the WINE ENG 2023 Conference, in the Barossa.

?Each of these is another small step towards a sustainable future and should be lauded so as to encourage other winemakers to “hop on the bandwagon” of environmental responsibility.

?Well until next week, I’ll say have a great week, be as environmentally friendly as you can, #chooseaustralianwine and try #emergingvarieties. Cheers, Dan T.

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