By Jed Lanyon
A new trust mark has been launched by Sustainable Winegrowing Australia that will recognise the sustainability efforts of winemakers.
The mark, which will be used by certified members on wine labels and marketing materials, provides a visible demonstration of their commitment to sustainable practices. Consumers will know from seeing the trust mark that the vineyard and winery have met rigorous standards of sustainability.
In launching the trust mark, Minister for Agriculture, David Littleproud said, “Australian grape and wine producers have a proud history of sustainable production and caring for their land. This trust mark provides a tangible way for producers to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability in the global wine marketplace. I encourage all Australian grape growers and winemakers to join and support Sustainable Winegrowing Australia.”
This comes as a Yarra Valley wine maker launches a range of their own sustainably produced wines.
De Bortoli announced a new wine label, 17 TREES, and have accompanied the product by supporting tree regeneration projects with a commitment to plant one tree for every six bottles sold. The new wine label is vegan friendly, making 17 TREES the new go-to for the socially and environmentally conscious.
Building upon De Bortoli’s first sustainability project in 2008 – to plant 17 trees for each company vehicle to offset the carbon effects of its fleet – the 17 TREES range which includes a Shiraz, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay, hope to demonstrate it is possible to do good whilst not compromising on taste.
The 17 TREES launch has seen De Bortoli partner with not-for-profit organisation Trillion Trees to plant native trees for a sustainable future in a hope to rebuild the Australian bushland lost during the 2019-2020 bushfire season.
Sustainability is at the core of the De Bortoli family’s drive for innovation, with the company recognised for their quest to become a Zero Waste Wine Company through wise water management, energy efficiencies and improved waste management over the past 15 years, in addition to converting some vineyards to organic.
With a vision of a future where great wine and a healthy environment can be enjoyed by everyone, the 17 TREES range is packaged in lightweight recycled glass bottles, with labels produced from natural fibre-based pulp derived from sugar cane waste, and recycled packaging materials.
Australian Grape and Wine Chief Executive, Tony Battaglene said there has been significant demand from Australian growers and winemakers for the development of a sustainability trust mark.
“We listened and are excited to be able to deliver this today. We are looking forward to seeing the trust mark on bottles of Australian wine and vineyard fences very soon.”
Andreas Clark, Chief Executive Officer Wine Australia, said, “It is important that we champion our sustainability credentials internationally. We have a great story to tell about our wines being an expression of our people and our places, and the trust mark will help people connect to our sustainability messages.”
