Entries in this year's Air New Zealand Wine Awards show that sustainability is the rule rather than the exception. 96 per cent of the 1389 entries have sustainability measures in place.
The New Zealand Winegrowers' (NZW) Sustainability Policy stipulates that wines must be made from 100 per cent certified grapes in wine making and wine packaging facilities that are certified.
Certification is achieved either through Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ), the industry body which acts as a quality assurance and oversees wine standards that were introduced in 2002, or through recognised biodynamic and organic certifiers so consumers can be sure that their choice of tipple has undergone strict sustainability measures, from grape to bottle.
New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW) sustainability general manager Philip Manson says New Zealand is a world leader in sustainably produced wines.
"For winemakers, sustainability not only means making great wine, it is also about how they're growing grapes and making wine, and how it affects the environment, people and the wider community."
