Yealands Estate Winery Certified Carbon Zero

SPRINGFIELD, Va., Apr 13, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Marlborough, New Zealand winery, Yealands Estate Wines Ltd continues to raise the bar in sustainable wine production by announcing its receipt of carboNZero certification from Landcare Research, New Zealand Limited.
Yealands Estate is the largest winery in New Zealand to achieve this status for its organization and wine products. From winemaking to employee air travel to foreign port shipping, Yealands Estate Wines now has an effective net zero carbon footprint. With certification in hand, Yealands undeniably proves "green" can be done on a scalable level and is a model for companies worldwide.
Owner and founder Peter Yealands is thrilled with the achievement, which is part of his ongoing mission to create the country's first fully sustainable winery.
"There are only a dozen wineries in the world with carbon neutral certification and seven of those are in New Zealand. We're the first in New Zealand to have been measuring emissions since day one," says Peter Yealands, an outspoken advocate for sustainable practices.
"This is the first time a wine company has been carboNZero certified since its formation. This means Yealands Estate has measured and offset all of its greenhouse gas emissions since day one," says Roger Kerrison of Aura Sustainability, the facilitator for Landcare Research. "carboNZero certification is a complex measurement, yet the Yealands Estate team was up for the challenge and the scrutiny."
Both the vineyard and the state-of-the-art winery employ techniques to maximize operating efficiencies and keep a light carbon footprint. Techniques include solar and wind power, extensive heat recovery systems, production waste recycling and storm water collection used to irrigate the expansive Seaview Vineyard. Further, Yealands has developed more than 20 wetland areas to preserve native plant species and to attract native birds.
In addition to being a world leader in sustainable wine production, Yealands Estate creates award-winning wines, amassing more than 30 international medals with its 2008 vintage and proving that even going "green" you can still produce great wines.
With Yealands Estate set for a national launch in May, this is great news for U.S. consumers, retailers and restaurateurs looking for more sustainable wine choices. The winery will incorporate the carboNZero certification logo on the wine labels providing consumers with an easily recognized symbol of sustainability.
Other accolades for Yealands Estate include accreditation for its winery and vineyard under Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand and a Wine Standards Management Plan that has been verified under the New Zealand Food Safety Association Code of Practice.
Billington Wines is a family-owned importer, marketer and producer of fine wines from around the world. Founded in 1985, Billington prides itself in pristine customer service, superior quality products and wines offering an unbeatable value in quality and price.
www.carbonzero.co.nz - www.landcareresearch.co.nz - www.yealands.co.nz - www.billingtonwines.com
SOURCE: Yealands Estate
Billington Wines
Meghan Snyder, Marketing and Communications Manager
703-752-1335
meghan.s@billingtonwines.com