Sustainability

Australian Vintage has introduced a raft of initiatives as part of a significant commitment to our green investment programme.

As one of the biggest producers in Australia, we operate at a scale that can deliver significant environmental benefits as a result of our green policies.

We’re fully committed to investments that combine strong green principles and operational efficiencies to create a more sustainable future.

Solar and Renewable Energy

In November 2018, we became the first Australian company to sign a landmark deal to ensure that 90% of energy consumption at our largest winery – the third biggest in Australia – is met by renewable sources. The ground-breaking Hybrid Renewable Corporate PPA guarantees that 60% of the energy needed to power our Buronga Hill winery in New South Wales is sourced from off-site wind and solar plants.
A further 30% of its energy requirements comes from Buronga Hill’s own solar panel plant, which is one of the largest privately-owned solar parks at an Australian winery.
The move is a major step in our pledge to be increasingly reliant on renewable energy sources and part of a raft of green investments, including installing solar at two further sites in Australia.

Solar and Renewable Energy

At our Merbein packaging facility in Victoria, we have completed a solar installation of 0.3MW, which has cut electricity usage by 10%.

We have also installed 0.1MW of solar at our Hunter Valley winery and McGuigan Cellar Door, cutting electricity usage by approximately 40%.

Supply Chain

Our sustainability initiatives extend into the supply chain. The company’s freight partner, GTS, has invested $15 million introducing a new fleet of state-of-the-art German-made delivery trucks designed to cut pollution with cleaner engines and greater fuel efficiencies. This means our wines are some of the most environmentally-friendly on the road.

Water Management

The company has stepped-up its waste-water management system. The nutrient-rich water from our winery operations is now being used to irrigate pastures of a 50-acre woodlot along with a newly established 50-acre vineyard at the winery.

Refrigeration Upgrades

Refrigeration accounts for approximately 50% of the total power used at a winery and having made the decision to upgrade our equipment to increase efficiency, this has reduced electricity usage by 9% while also cutting CO2 emissions in the past year.