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SUSTAINABLE WINEGROWING GETS ITS 1000TH MEMBER
Date: Fri 24 Oct 2008
In spite of concern from organic producers that the Sustainable Winegrowing programme run by New Zealand Winegrowers is not actually sustainable, nor is it environment friendly, there are now 1,000 vineyards signed up to it. This equates to almost 80% of New Zealand’s wine producing land or 22,500 hectares out of 29,000 hectares across the country.
Additionally, 100 wineries have now signed up to the Sustainable Winegrowing programme equating to more than 75% of New Zealand’s wine production.
In a press release, New Zealand Winegrowers chief executive officer, Philip Gregan said with exports of New Zealand wine continuing to grow in overseas markets, the importance placed on sustainably produced products is increasing. “Consumers have expectations regarding sustainably and ethically produced products and we must ensure we meet these expectations.”
Sustainable Winegrowing endorses a wide range of synthetic chemical applications to vineyards and allows the use of isolated enzymes and refined yeast cultures in a programme that is aimed at convincing global wine drinkers that the Sustainable Winegrowing logo on New Zealand wine labels reflects some level of environmental standard.
Sustainable Winegrowing was initially introduced in 1995 by New Zealand Winegrowers, and the release says that Mr Gregan is thrilled with the latest figures and is pleased wineries are increasingly seeing the relevance of the logo to New Zealand’s wine industry.
“We are delighted to see the membership to Sustainable Winegrowing continuing to rise. It is a direct result of New Zealand wineries and grapegrowers’ commitment to sustainable production,” Mr Gregan said
Mr Gregan said there has also been a surge in interest from vineyards and wineries in organic and biodynamic grapegrowing and winemaking.
“Sustainable Winegrowing is just one of the independently-audited programmes available to New Zealand grapegrowers and winemakers, and we encourage those members who have not yet joined a programme to explore their options and look at the benefits of sustainability,” Mr Gregan said.
Notably absent from the wineries and vineyards signed on to the programme are The Millton Vineyard, producers of New Zealand's oldest and most internationally respected organic wine, as well as most of the other producers with a genuine interest in sustainable management of their winegrowing and production.
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