Yealands Estate wins sustainability award

New Zealand’s Yealands Estate winery has beaten off global competition to be crowned the Most Sustainable Medium Business at the International Green Awards in London.

The Marlborough producer pipped an eclectic list of rivals, from green energy supplier Ecotricity to Australia’s Numi Organic Tea. No other wine company made the shortlist.

Philip Gregan, CEO of New Zealand Winegrowers, called the win a ‘great endorsement’ for the country’s commitment to sustainable winemaking.

‘For us sustainability is about using resources in a smarter way, which guarantees future supply and our profitability,’ said Peter Yealands, the estate founder. ‘We set out with a vision of best practice from the vine to the bottle.’

Some of the more unusual practices at Yealands have included playing classical music to vines through digital speakers, and importing ‘baby-doll’ sheep to keep the grass trim.

On a more serious note, Yealands employs both solar and wind power, and oversees around 20 wetland areas on vineyard land. Its efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions are certified by CarbonZero.

Yealands is one of several supporting ‘partners’ of the International Green Awards, and its Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir were served during Tuesday night’s awards dinner in London.

Organisers stress that all entries are judged anonymously

Yealands Estate won 18 medals at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2012, including two Silver Medals.

Written by Chris Mercer