Entwine Australia is the Australian wine industry’s sustainability program that was set up to support growers and winemakers in demonstrating and improving the sustainability of their business.
Sheep are currently used at Ashwood Estate through autumn and winter to maintain the pasture, remove hard to kill weeds and return organic fertiliser back to the vineyard. The vineyard has also reduced its chemical input and begun choosing softer products that have less effect on the environment over harsher chemicals. In addition, the vineyard uses organic and natural products as fertilisers instead of synthetics and manufactured products.
Sidewood owner, Owen Inglis said: “Securing Entwine Australia membership has been a long but highly worthwhile process that enables us to provide a guarantee to our customers and suppliers that an industry recognised environmental assurance program has been followed whilst growing our product.
“We are fortunate to grow our fruit in the magnificent Adelaide Hills – a region for which I have immense passion – as does our viticulturist, Mark Vella. As grape growers we can have a significant impact on natural resources such as land area, soil, water courses and the biodiversity. Using the correct management practices and sustainable quantities of production inputs such as chemicals, fertiliser and water will ensure the long term sustainability of our vineyard and the surrounding farming area” said Mr Inglis.
In the future, Sidewood Estate also hopes to gain Entwine accreditation at its vineyards in Nairne, and in the next few weeks it will switch the Nairne winery over to solar power. With support from the State Government through PIRSA (Primary Industries and Regions SA), a 100kw solar system has been installed at the Nairne winery. The solar panels will provide 50 per cent of Nairne's annual electricity usage, facilitating 100 per cent of the winery's power during daylight hours and normal operations and 50-75 per cent during vintage and bottling/canning periods.
Share the content
