Another First From A Winery Pioneering Climate Change

2 APRIL 2009 - Yealands Estate Wines Ltd continues to break new ground in sustainable wine production with the announcement it has received carboNZero certification from Landcare Research - the largest winery in New Zealand to achieve this status for its organisation and wine products.

Owner and founder Peter Yealands is thrilled at 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 - a long-term advocate of sustainable practises.

Certification through Landcare Research took eight months and was facilitated by Roger Kerrison from Aura Sustainability who applauded Yealands Estate for breaking new ground in sustainable wine production.

"This is the first time a wine company has been carboNZero certified since its formation. This means Yealands Estate Wines has measured and offset all its greenhouse gas emissions since day one," says Roger. "carboNZero certification is a complex measurement. The team at Yealands Estate were up for the challenge and the scrutiny."

Mike Tournier, business manager for the carboNZero programme commends Yealands Estate Wines Ltd for its dedication and commitment to achieving a carbon neutral certification. "The carboNZero programme is a world-leading certification scheme developed by government owned Crown Research Institute, Landcare Research, " says Mike. "In being awarded this certification, Yealands Estate Wines Ltd can have the utmost confidence in its carbon neutrality. This strengthens its global brand of sustainability."

At Yealands Estate's vineyard and state-of-the-art winery, a range of techniques have been implemented including solar and wind power, numerous high tech energy savings initiatives, the harvesting of storm water to irrigate the vineyards around the winery and developing more than 20 wetland areas to preserve native species and attract native birds.

The privately-owned winery is the first in New Zealand to be developed from initial design through to construction in compliance with the draft Green Star NZ Industrial rating requirements. It is targeting a 6 Green Star rating under the new certification code, which when achieved will signify "world leadership" status in green building design and operation.

It is the largest winery to have been issued carboNZero status which means retailers and importers have a commercially viable option in choosing to sell sustainable wine.

"Often boutique wineries are sustainable but they only make small amounts of wine. We're able to offer the best of both worlds in terms of a green option that has security of supply," says Peter.

And for Yealands Estate it's a recipe for success. The winery has sold or allocated all cases from its 2008 vintage in just six months.

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.

Yealands Estate aims to be world leader in sustainable wine production and is setting an example for wineries around the world. At the same time, it is creating award-winning wines that everyone can enjoy collecting more than 30 medals in its first year and proving that going 'green' means you can still produce great-tasting wines.