Envirosafe Solutions keeps a careful eye out for those businesses and organisations and concerns that are forging new environmentally friendly practices in production, development and business modelling. Today, the focus is on one very forward thinking winery that is making a real mark on the Australian wine market and wine industry.
There’s nothing like a glass of good red with a meal.
But green wine?
Well…it’s not really green, but it is organic and environmentally sound. One winery is producing quality wine the eco-friendly way, and proving that quality production, an organic approach, and great wine can and do go together.
Tamburlaine Winery is Australia’s largest producer of organic wines and is situated in the Pokolbin district of the Hunter Valley in NSW as well as Orange on the Central Tablelands of NSW. James Halliday, one of Australia’s leading wine authorities, has bestowed it with a five star rating, indicating that quality and environmentally sound practices are now established hallmarks of great wine production.[1]
The Organic Approach
The organic approach to wine making means that the wine is produced without any synthetic herbicides, pesticides, fungicides or artificial fertilisers. Sulphur dioxide is used carefully in the process, and traditionally used wine additives “which are residual in the end product” are excluded.[2]
This approach has benefits across the board and Tamburlaine Wines lists a number of key advantages to organic farming methods for grape vine growing.
- It leads to sustainability by optimising humus in the soil
- The vines are supported and sustained by the natural fertility of the soil as opposed to synthetic fertilising products
- Significantly minimises need for irrigation as increased humus leads to increased water retention
- Eliminates harmful effects of farm chemicals on surrounding areas
- Eliminates possible wine toxins for the consumer
- Promotes and maintains healthy vineyard ecosystem.[3]
A Formal Environmental Management System
The Australian Government’s Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities states that an EMS “is a tool for managing the impacts of an organisation’s activities on the environment. It provides a structured approach to planning and implementing environmental protection measures.”[4]
Tamburlaine Winery developed and implemented a formal EMS in 2003, and this is now the underpinning foundation of their business system and their decision-making. It includes such practices as
- Sustainable farming practices
- Water management strategies
- Solid waste management
- Energy efficiency
- Environmental purchasing
Envirosafe Solutions supports the kinds of approach put forward by businesses and concerns such as Tamburlaine Winery. It strongly supports and promotes the need for environmental purchasing and believes smart business sources and utilises materials and products that are less damaging to the environment. Envirosafe Solutions believes a greener alternative can always be adopted, even in areas where there is an historical reliance on high toxicity products and materials. Products such as biodegradable cleaning liquids which are healthier for soil and land and water, and safer alternatives for harsher products are available from Envirosafe Solutions.
The Extreme Green team at Envirosafe Solutions may be able provide you with safer alternatives to the products you are currently using.
To find out more about the many products that are produced and supplied by Envirosafe Solutions, telephone 1300 889070
[1] http://www.tamburlaine.com.au/public/aboutus.html
[2] http://www.tamburlaine.com.au/public/what-organic.html
[3] http://www.tamburlaine.com.au/public/what-organic.html
[4] http://www.environment.gov.au/land/management/ems/index.html
