Sustainability Timeline
McLaren Vale's Journey of Sustainability
McLaren Vale became Australia’s first wine region to self-impose water restrictions on its underground resources.
Willunga Basin Water begins distributing recycled water to grape growers in the McLaren Vale wine region.
A financial benchmarking program for McLaren Vale grape growers was implemented.
Pest & disease, soil & water management and biodiversity codes were developed for use by McLaren Vale growers.
Generational farming workbook developed. A self-assessment program for growers to improve their sustainability and on-farm practices.
McLaren Vale Sustainable Winegrowing (new self-assessment Methodology) developed by Dr Irina Santiago-Brown.
Sustainable Australia Winegrowing moves beyond McLaren Vale and opens to all wine growing regions.
The Sustainable Australia Winegrowing program from McLaren Vale transitions to the national program, Sustainable Winegrowing Australia.
McLaren Vale leads all Australian wine regions in Biodynamic & Organic Certified vineyards
McLaren Vale's Hither & Yon become South Australia’s first Certified Carbon Neutral organisation, prompting other producers to set Carbon Neutral plans.
McLaren Vale's Inkwell Wines become Australia's first Certified Regenerative Organic Vineyard in Australia.
McLaren Vale's Journey of Sustainability
Self-Imposed Water Restrictions
McLaren Vale became Australia’s first wine region to self-impose water restrictions on its underground resources.Recycled Water Network
Willunga Basin Water begins distributing recycled water to grape growers in the McLaren Vale wine region.Financial Benchmarking
A financial benchmarking program for McLaren Vale grape growers was implemented.Codes developed for growers
Pest & disease, soil & water management and biodiversity codes were developed for use by McLaren Vale growers.Generational Farming Workbook
Generational farming workbook developed. A self-assessment program for growers to improve their sustainability and on-farm practices.McLaren Vale Sustainable Australia Winegrowing
McLaren Vale Sustainable Winegrowing (new self-assessment Methodology) developed by Dr Irina Santiago-Brown.Sustainable Australia Winegrowing opens to all wine growing regions
Sustainable Australia Winegrowing moves beyond McLaren Vale and opens to all wine growing regions.Transition of McLaren Vale program to national program
The Sustainable Australia Winegrowing program from McLaren Vale transitions to the national program, Sustainable Winegrowing Australia.Leading Australian wine region in Biodynamic & Organic Certifications
McLaren Vale leads all Australian wine regions in Biodynamic & Organic Certified vineyardsS.A's first Certified Carbon Neutral organisation
McLaren Vale's Hither & Yon become South Australia’s first Certified Carbon Neutral organisation, prompting other producers to set Carbon Neutral plans.Australia's first Certified Regenerative Organic Vineyard
McLaren Vale's Inkwell Wines become Australia's first Certified Regenerative Organic Vineyard in Australia.
Forerunner in Regional Sustainability Reporting
McLaren Vale's Sustainable Australia Winegrowing program transitioned to form part of the now national sustainability program, Sustainable Winegrowing Australia.
In 2011 McLaren Vale Grape Wine & Tourism Association (MVGWTA) introduced the Sustainable Australia Winegrowing Program (SAW) which was a result of a series of initiatives developed by MVGWTA since the early 2000’s. SAW was developed to maximise grower and regional overall sustainability, and aimed to minimise environmental impacts. The data captured and reported provided growers with the best management tool to demonstrate their performance against their regional peers and recognised best practice. The Program assessed sustainability through the triple bottom line approach (environment, economic and social) and focused on continuous improvement of the grower and the region’s results over time.
The SAW Program ran until early 2019 by which point, 72% of McLaren Vale’s area under vine used the SAW Program to assess and improve practices. Following a global review of the sustainability landscape, MVGWTA and The Australian Wine Research Institute, with support from Wine Australia and Australian Grape and Wine worked together to develop a single national sustainability program, building on the strengths of the then existing Entwine and SAW Programs.
Further information on the transition of McLaren Vale's sustainability program to the national Sustainable Winegrowing Australia program can be found here:
For further information regarding Australia's national sustainability program Sustainable Winegrowing Australia, please click here.
What is Sustainable Winegrowing?
Growing and making wine sustainably is a holistic approach to production that evolves the environmental aspect of the craft. It looks at how we can better use energy and water to create efficiency, support regions and communities, and establish a business that is resilient and thriving.
Where organic and biodynamic practices look specifically at environmental management, sustainable winegrowing takes a broader view to improve social and economic performance. Fortunately, many growers and makers in Australia are practicing sustainably already, it’s just getting into the habit of documenting everything to make it official.
As part of the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia program, information collected allows a greater understanding of what’s happening in the vineyard or winery. It allows our community to know where they are and have a view to where they want their practice to be. So, they can be proactive, rather than reactive.*
*Source: Sustainable Winegrowing Australia
