THE GOOD LIFE

Eco wines have gone from grassroots to global movement but how do you know if the wine you are drinking is green enough?

Sustainable wine “is not just about strong environmental credentials”, says Tony Battaglene, chair of the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia program. “It’s about making the world a better place. You have to meet key social and economic criteria. That means meeting community expectations on things such as labour and ethical performance as well.” Australia is among several countries leading the way. “Environmental events like the bushfires and floods have really pushed awareness.” Almost 900 of our wineries and grapegrowers – including big guns such as Seppelt, Taylors and Lindeman’s – have already earned, or are in the process of earning, program certification, which is independently verified and considered the gold standard “heart tick” for local eco wine. When it comes to the environment, winemakers and growers have a host of strategies. Inside wineries, they’re adopting lightweight bottles, solar-powered production lines and airflow cooling systems to cut carbon emissions. On vineyards, raising organic or biodynamic wines with no chemicals and minimal intervention is part of the story, although – as Battaglene points out – organic doesn’t always mean sustainable. Other growers are reviving ancient farming methods, including mulching. Then there are cutting-edge technologies, such as liquid films that stretch like a seal across dams to stop water loss through evaporation. And in the bottle? The focus on doing things better is delivering expressive, creative drops that taste incredible. “As an industry we can really make a difference and it results in a better quality wine at the end,” says Battaglene.