Yealands Estate, New Zealand’s leading sustainable winery based in the Awatere Valley, Marlborough, has been named Most Successful Winery of Competition for the second time in two years at the 2018 Sydney International Wine Competition (SIWC). This marks the company’s best results ever in the nine years of entering this competition. The winery also received platinum medal for The Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT)’s 2017 International Award of Excellence in Sustainable Winegrowing in January 2017.
Advanced green technology
Kunekune pigs and Babydoll sheep are too short to reach the grapes (Credit/Yealands)
Founded by entrepreneur Peter Yealands, the winery is proving that sustainable practices can be award-winning. Its Babydoll wine range—which took Platinum Best in Show: Best Sauvignon Blanc medal at the 2017 Decanter Asia Wine Awards—is named after the rare miniature Babydoll sheep used instead of tractors to tidy the vine rows. These sheep mow between the vines along with miniature kunekune pigs. The winery aims to be completely energy self-sufficient, and it’s the first winery in the world to be accredited carboNZerocertTM since inception. These initiatives can be seen all throughout the winery, from growing and packaging to distribution and marketing.
Yealands’ list of sustainable programs is long and impressive. That takes commitment and vision.
—Ed Schneider, Botanical Research Institute of Texas President and Director
Sustainability is at the core of Yealands’ business (Credit/Yealands)
The winery even brought in Monarch butterflies to help pollinate the vines, and planted native shrubs in its 25 wetland areas. It saves vine prunings for heating and operates one of the largest composts in New Zealand.
Organic, biodynamic or sustainable?
Unlike organic wines, biodynamic and sustainable wines are not regulated by the government. Organic can be wines made from grapes grown without chemicals or pesticides, and also without added sulfites. Biodynamic is similar to organic but considers the entire ecosystem of a vineyard in the process, like holistic farming. Sustainable refers to the practices that are better for the environment, reduce waste and are socially responsible.
If you’re still unsure about your wine’s label, read Natural Wine: An introduction to organic and biodynamic wines made naturally, by Isabelle Legeron. The Master of Wine explains how natural wines are best, and suggests over 140 different wines to try. In Biodynamic, Organic and Natural Winemaking: Sustainable Viticulture and Viniculture, wine journalists
A toast to Yealands for being awarded Most Successful Winery of Competition.
Cheers!
Get in touch
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 10am–4:30 pm (closed Christmas Day, Good Friday and Anzac Day)
Yealands Estate Wines Limited
Corner of Seaview and Reserve Roads Seddon
Marlborough 7285
New Zealand
Follow Yealands on Instagram and Facebook for calendar events, like wine and food pairings, adventure races and festivals.
Written By: Adriane Rysz