The South Australian Wine Story

Other wineries with significant solar systems include Yalumba, d’Arenberg, Seppeltsfield, Peter Lehmann, Angove, Torbreck, Wirra Wirra, Jim Barry and Gemtree. Yalumba is making its environmental mark in other ways as well. It has been developing a sustainable viticulture program since the mid 1990s, and is the first wine company in the world to receive the Climate Protection Award from the US Environmental Protection Agency. All Yalumba’s wines have been vegetarian and vegan friendly since 2011. Yalumba also runs an important environmental management program. For every hectare of vineyard it owns, it has at least one hectare of natural vegetation. Further north in the Riverland region, Banrock Station has won international respect as a leader in promoting environmental protection and restoration for more than two decades. In 2001, the giant wetland area that is a focal part of its winery was formally rated as of international importance under a global treaty known as the Ramsar Convention. Taylors Wines has an equally impressive track record and its Eighty Acres range of wines was the first in the world to have its full carbon footprint assessed to international standard, allowing the company to offset its CO 2 output using legitimate, high-quality carbon offsets. Taylors’ comprehensive environmental management system allows it to audit the impact of its activities across a number of key measures, including water consumption, waste, noise and air emissions, energy, soil and storage managements and environmental risks. SAWIA continues to provide a focus for the industry’s determination to constantly improve its environmental performance – making change based on knowledge, particularly in relation to climate change. This has included developing a Climate Change Adaption Toolkit for the industry. In late 2018, SAWIA announced a new program in partnership with government agency Green Industries SA (GISA) and productivity and energy efficiency consultancy 2XE to help South Australian wineries better manage their energy demand. SAWIA and GISA also work together to support and encourage the use of recycled glass in the wine industry. There is also a strong focus on environmental research. The AWRI, is working with partners in the Adelaide- based Wine Innovation Cluster to develop innovative methods for improving the management of valuable soil and water resources. South Australia’s wide range of climates also provides important benefits for wineries. Less disease pressure in the vineyards allows for lower chemical use. For consumers, the end result is better, cleaner, healthier wines. The use of irrigation in South Australian vineyards is 14% lower than the national average. The South Australian Wine Story 09