Sustainability message a wine selling point in Australia

Interest in sustainable wine making and growing continues to grow in Australia.

The Australian Wine Research Institute’s General Manager Industry Development and Support Dr Mardi Longbottom said: “Despite challenging conditions facing the Australian wine industry, we’ve seen a really positive wave of progress within the sustainable winegrowing community, with many producers becoming certified for the first time.

“In addition to members saying, ‘it’s the right thing to do’, momentum has been building due to retailers and hospitality venues globally asking for sustainability credentials or building select ranges or wine lists around sustainability."

Sustainable Winegrowing Australia is the national sustainability program for Australian grape and wine producers and this month released its latest Impact Report, illustrating to retailers and consumers what is involved in making sustainable wine.

The report also highlights the increasing availability of wines that display the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certified trust mark. This mark assures purchasers that the vineyard and winery have met sustainability practices, verified by an independent third-party audit.

As consumers increasingly factor the environment and planet into their purchase decisions, a recent study confirmed that more than half of regular wine drinkers around the globe say they only trust the sustainability of wines if they have an official certification. A visible trust mark therefore provides confidence that the wine’s claims are validated and can help alleviate any concerns about greenwashing.

As of vintage 2023, the equivalent of 96.1 million bottles of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia-certified wine has been produced2, with more significant growth on the horizon from vintage 2024.

The trust mark makes it easier for consumers and retailers to identify sustainably made wine, helping people to buy better (so they say).

Hill Smith Family Estates head of sustainability Louisa Rose said: “Since vintage 2023, 100% of Hill-Smith Family Estates wines are now certified and progressively displaying the trust mark.

"Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification has given us an advantage in both domestic and international markets. We are seeing more and more buyers seeking sustainable credentials when considering wines for new listings and tenders.

“While each market or customer is at a different part of the journey, many are moving rapidly in the direction of sustainable certification being a prerequisite to trade - it is easy to imagine a time when being certified sustainable is the norm for all customers, and that won’t be far away.”

Duxton Vineyards and Rewild Wine’s chief winemaker Tony Allen said: “When we launched Rewild wine a few years ago, we worked closely with a major Australian wine retailer who wanted to build more certified sustainable wine brands into their portfolio.

“With our focus on sustainability across every aspect of the process from grape growing and winemaking, through to packaging, we built the Rewild brand, with an ethos of giving back
more than it takes from mother nature. The Sustainable Winegrowing Australia trust mark makes it easier for wine drinkers to choose a product that prioritises the environment and people.”

Image: Yalumba vineyards in the Eden Valley

When good friends whip out a bagnum

There are times when you just need a decent wine that is easily accessible.

You are heading to the beach, perhaps, or having a picnic, or a few friends around for a barbecue.

Bottles are unwieldly, casks just a little unreliable. What might fit the bill is a bagnum.

Australian wine brand Rewild has just launched its new eco-conscious bagnum format - joining a growing number of brands that offer the combo of decent drinking and lightweight convenience.

The Rewild bagnum options are 2023 chardonnay, 2023 sauvignon blanc and 2022 shiraz produced by Duxton Vineyards.

All are very drinkable at a price point that effectively sits them at under $10 a bottle, with the sauvignon blanc extremely varietal and refreshing, the stone fruit-driven chardonnay very decent and the shiraz at pub by-the-glass level.

All three wines are 100% Vegan friendly and the bagnums are designed to be shared, with each unit holding 1.5 litres (or the equivalent of 2x750ml glass bottles).

Rewild senior winemaker Tony Allen says the bagnum format gives wine-lovers a sustainable, convenient and affordable option:

“The consumer mindset when it comes to wine packaging is changing, with eco-conscious wine drinkers now appreciating that a bagnum format offers many benefits," he said.

"Not only does the bagnum hold more than a standard wine bottle, it also keeps wine fresher for longer [up to 30 days] once opened when compared to traditional bottled wine.

"With the packaging being at least 90% lighter than glass - and available at an affordable price point for 1.5 litres - the Rewild bagnum is perfect for outdoor group events or gatherings, or for those looking for a delicious yet affordable option.”

So not for a dinner party, perhaps, but certainly good pizza, pasta, picnic wines. All the fruit comes from vineyards in the Southern Murray Darling region.

Rewild bagnums are available at Dan Murphy’s stores starting from from $17.99.

See http://rewildwine.com.au/

Wine cocktails? Yes, maybe

 

A press release about wine-based cocktails? 

My finger hovered for a moment over the "delate" button. 

But then I gave it some thought. 

I enjoy a kir royale, which is certainly a wine cocktail. And a Bellini? Yes please, and also a wine cocktail. 

So why not some cheap and cheerful cocktails made from affordable Aussie wines? 

Tony Allen, the wine and grape commercial manager at Rewild Wines has put some thought into a couple of drinks that any wine-loving mixologist can put together at home. 

Here are a couple of his favourites: 

Mimosa with Rewild Prosecco – serves eight 

# 1 bottle (750 ml) chilled Rewild Prosecco

# 2 to 4 cups chilled pulp-free orange juice 

Method: While holding your wine flute at a slight tilt, fill the glass about halfway with Prosecco. Fill the rest of the glass with orange juice and serve. Or swap out the OJ for freshly squeezed watermelon juice and add some fresh mint leaves. 

Red Sangria with Rewild Merlot

# 1 bottle (750ml) of Rewild Merlot

# 1 lemon, cut into wedges, 1 orange, cut into wedges, 1 lime, cut into wedges

# 2 tablespoons sugar

# Splash of orange juice or lemonade

# 2 shots of gin or triple sec 

# 1 cup of raspberries or strawberries 

# 1 small can of diced pineapples (with juice)

# 4 cups ginger ale

Method: Pour wine into a large jug and squeeze the juice from the lemon, orange and lime wedges into the wine. Toss in the fruit wedges (leaving out seeds) and pineapple, then add sugar, orange juice and gin or triple sec. Chill overnight then add ginger ale, berries and ice just before serving. 

The Rewild range includes pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, moscato, rosé, merlot, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, fiano, prosecco and a red blend and is available from Dan Murphy’s stores and select BWS stores for $9.99. 

See rewildwine.com.au/

New sustainable wine range offers sub-$10 value

It is hard to find a sub-$10 wine that shines, but I was genuinely impressed by both the varietal chardonnay and the well-balanced sauvignon blanc in the range of  sustainability-driven new Australian wine brand Rewild. 

The $9.99 range from Duxton Vineyards released this week includes a chardonnay, moscato, pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc and rosé, with red varietals arriving later in 2022.

The blurb says the wines are all produced using sustainable methods and made using minimal intervention. That's good stuff. 

The range is also 100% vegan friendly, ticking another hipster box, along with ethical consumption credentials.

Recent studies have revealed that almost two in three Australians (65%) are concerned about their carbon footprint, and 40% of consumers value and consider a company’s environmental efforts when purchasing products 

Duxton Vineyards is a member of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia. 

Senior winemaker Tony Allen says Rewild is a wine range that celebrates Australian agriculture and is dedicated to improving the environment.

“It’s the land that gifts us these wines, so it’s important that we give back and support meaningful change," Allen says. 

"Rewild is created for people who enjoy delicious wine but also want to make purchase decisions they feel good about, and have a positive impact on the environment.” 

The Rewild bottles are lightweight and packed in FSC-certified recycled cardboard, and the labels are made from sugarcane - all features designed to minimise the brand’s carbon footprint and impact on the environment.

Rewild has a goal to reach 100% renewable energy, uses regenerative farming practices, water-saving initiatives and a biodiversity management plan as well as not using any animal products.

All the grapes come from the southern Murray Darling region. 

The wines are available from Dan Murphy’s stores nationally for $9.99. 

See http://rewildwine.com.au/