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Green Leaders

Cawthron Marlborough Environment Awards 2021

Judges in Hunter’s Wines native grove

SOPHIE PREECE

MARLBOROUGH’S ENVIRONMENT Awards are a chance to showcase initiatives “that often go under the radar”, says judge Andy Frost. “It is great to see more wineries are taking an interest in the environment they’re operating in.”

There are three entrants in the wine industry category of the Cawthron Marlborough Environment Awards 2021, with Lawson’s Dry Hills, Hunter’s Wines, and the Bragato Research Institute (BRI) each showcasing sustainability measures. “All three entries in the wine industry category were ahead of their time when they started,” says Andy. “And projects such as Hunter’s and Lawson’s Dry Hills are now seeing the marketing edge that can be achieved as well as the environmental benefits.”

Wine Marlborough sponsors the wine industry category of the awards, and general manager Marcus Pickens says he’s always impressed by the diversity of the entries, and the depth of commitment to improving processes of making the natural habitats around vineyards and wineries better. “These days sustainability is regularly discussed around board tables and management meetings, but many people in our industry have been on this journey for decades.”

Hunter’s started planting a native bush area at its Rapaura Rd winery and cellar door 20 years ago, and now tōtara, horoeka/lancewood and kōwhai tower overhead, while harakeke planted on the western boundary helps soak up treated winery waste water. Judges heard that bird life has increased exponentially, and visitors also appreciate the opportunity to walk through the native bush.

Hunter’s managing director Jane Hunter says the plantings encompass much of what the company is about. “We very much want to showcase Marlborough and the environment.” She says when they planted the gardens, they knew it would help with their sustainability goals, but hadn’t expected the warm response from visitors, many of whom take time to stroll through the established native grove, or the appreciation of Hunter’s staff for the plantings. “They have really struck a chord with people.”

Innovation and sustainability are part of the DNA at Lawson’s Dry Hills, says General Manager Sion Barnsley. “It has very much been a long-term thing for our business.” Founder Ross Lawson was a leader in the 2001 initiative to convert New Zealand wine companies to use screwcaps rather than cork, to ensure quality and reduce wastage of wine. Ten years later, Lawson’s Dry Hills was one of the first wineries to achieve ISO 14001 accreditation, which encompasses sustainability measures across the whole business. Power and water use has been substantially reduced, bottles and packaging have a high recycled content, and they are constantly finding ways to reduce plastic use, judges heard. “We have seen real benefits across our business,” says Sion. “It has made us think smarter.” The company is now focusing on becoming carbon neutral by March, through ISO14064 accreditation, “and we are looking forward to achieving this latest step in our sustainability journey,” he adds.

The third entrant is a newer kid on the block, but the BRI’s cutting-edge winery, launched last year, is a benchmark for sustainable building. The research winery is signed up to the Green Star building programme, which is an accreditation tool to support environmentally sound and efficient design, construction and use. The project team called on a wide range of wine industry experience and building knowledge to ensure a facility to meet the needs of scientists and wine companies, says chief executive MJ Loza.

The judges recognised “strong potential for the ideas and innovation that went into the BRI research winery to be replicated by commercial wineries”.

The entrants show that “scale can be big or small, but still beneficial, and can rub off on others,” Andy adds. “It’s a privilege to go behind the scenes and find out first-hand the work that’s being done for the environment. Now it’s the job of the awards to help share that experience.”

Twenty-six entrants across seven categories will be showcased at the Cawthron Marlborough Environment Awards Dinner on March 5 at the Marlborough Convention Centre. For more information and ticket go to cmea.org.nz

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