ORGANIC AND BIODYNAMIC WINE

AUSTRALIAN WINE DISCOVERED Australia’s unique climate and landscape have fostered a fiercely independent wine scene, home to a vibrant community of growers, winemakers, viticulturists, and vignerons. With more than 100 grape varieties grown across 65 distinct wine regions, we have the freedom to make exceptional wine, and to do it our own way. We’re not beholden by tradition, but continue to push the boundaries in the pursuit of the most diverse, thrilling wines in the world. That’s just our way. The Australian wine community is finding bold, creative and innovative ways to ensure our long-term environmental, social and economic viability, meeting consumer demands and protecting our diverse terroirs.

DID YOU KNOW? Australia has the largest amount of certified-organic agricultural land worldwide. TO DAY

WE’LL -- Organic and biodynamic viticulture and winemaking in Australia -- Other environmental considerations -- Producer case studies -- The rise in COVER… alternative varieties KEY CONCEPTS: ORGANIC VITICULTURE

Grapes are grown and processed using no synthetic or artificial additives, chemicals, herbicides, pesticides, fertilisers or genetically modified products and organisms. The whole winemaking process – from growing the vines to bottling the CERTIFIED wine – must be organic. Not all wines ORGANIC labelled ‘organic’ are certified. Biodynamic grapegrowers try to achieve a balanced vineyard ecosystem using techniques and tools derived from the vineyard itself. They often take their cues on when to plant and harvest from the cycles of the moon.

BIODYNAMIC VITICULTURE VINEYARD MANAGEMENT: THREE VITICULTURAL APPROACHES

CONVENTIONAL ORGANIC VITICULTURE BIODYNAMIC VITICULTURE (NON-ORGANIC) VITICULTURE can also draw on both traditional is drawn from the ideas of draws on a range of agricultural and modern farming practices Rudolf Steiner. It’s similar practices, including traditional but avoids the use of synthetic to organic viticulture, farming methods, some synthetic fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides. but also incorporates the sprays and fertilisers, modern Instead, organic materials such phases of the moon and technology and environmentally- as rock phosphate, plant-based special soil preparations. conscious approaches. materials, animal-based products and chemical-free sprays are used. LUNAR CYCLE AND BIODYNAMIC VITICULTURE

RO BEST TIME TO ys OT BEST TIME HARVEST GRAPES da d FOR PRUNING Moon is in Aries, t a Moon is in Virgo, Leo or Sagittarius i Taurus or Capricorn ru y F s

F L s O W y BEST TIME TO LEAVE a BEST TIME TO VINEYARD ALONE E R d IRRIGATE Moon is in Aquarius, d Moon is in Pisces, Libra or Gemini ay f s L ea Cancer or Scorpio OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR VINEYARDS AND WINERIES -- Increasing irrigation efficiency -- Modifying irrigation practices in response to heatwaves and frosts -- Retaining soil moisture -- Using alternative varieties, rootstocks or both -- Modifying canopy-management practices -- Establishing vineyards in cooler regions, sourcing cooler-climate Adapting to climate fruit or both -- Delaying pruning to manipulate and climate change harvest dates Carbon neutrality and enegy efficiency -- Reducing fuel use, e.g. minimising use of tractors and other vehicles, changing grasses planted between vine rows to reduce need for mowing -- Reducing refrigeration in winemaking and using more energy-efficient heating methods -- Switching to lightweight bottles (fewer carbon emissions and less fuel for transport) -- Installing solar panels Increasing vineyard biodivesity

-- Planting cover crops or using mulch to increase plant diversity and ‘good’ insects that can eliminate pests -- Minimising mechanical cultivation to reduce soil compaction, which improves soil drainage and aeration, allowing water infiltration and biological activity -- Regularly monitoring soil quality -- Monitoring pests and disease and using environmentally friendly sprays -- Using low-input, organic and biodynamic farming practices; avoiding chemicals; and employing compost and manure COMPOSTING AND MULCHING

-- COMPOST: Decayed organic material that contains humus, which breaks down animal and vegetable matter. Humus aids soil fertility, improves soil structure and provides moisture

-- MULCH: Material that grapegrowers spread over grapevine roots to protect them WATER CONSERVATION, WATER REUSE AND WASTEWATER -- Drier regions rely on water conservation, reuse and MANAGEMENT wastewater management. Some innovative Australian wineries have gone so far as to establish their own wastewater‑recycling facilities. -- Irrigation can be a large drain on water resources. Drip irrigation systems may be used to minimise wastage. McLAREN VALE: A CASE STUDY IN WATER MANAGEMENT AND REUSE

McLaren Vale is at the forefront of efforts to both conserve and reuse water, having not used sprinkler or flood irrigation in more than a quarter‑century. Instead, it uses: -- Groundwater aquifers -- Surface catchment dams that collect and store water from natural run-off -- Treated, reclaimed water piped in from a wastewater-treatment facility Photo courtesy of Yangarra Estate Vineyard Estate Yangarra of courtesy Photo IPM encourages organic growers to understand: -- Life cycles of vineyard pests -- Pest population levels -- Useful parasites and predators INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM) STRATEGIES ANIMAL GRAZING -- Keeps weeds and winter grasses under control, meaning fewer herbicides -- Lessens the need for tractors to spray and mow grass, reducing fuel use -- Can make use of animal manure as a soil conditioner and natural fertiliser RECYCLING AND REUSE

Wineries can minimise landfill waste by disposing of: -- Glass waste -- Cardboard -- Paper -- Organic solid residuals -- Scrap metal -- E-waste C A S E STUDIES HOW TEMPLE BRUER WINES WENT CARBON-NEUTRAL

SWI T CHED T O INSTALLED SOLAR LIGHTWEIGHT PANELS WINE BOT TLES

Increased minimum temperature for Planted trees and native air conditioning vegetation in and around in winery offices the vineyard WINES

Discontinued REDUCED airfreighting REFRIGERATION shipments REQUIREMENTS to overseas distributors TEMPLE BRUER TEMPLE KALLESKE’S ORGANIC AND BIODYNAMIC PRACTICES IN THE VINEYARD

-- Controlling weeds mechanically and naturally nourishing vines without chemical fertilisers -- Using composts and natural fertilisers (kelp and rock dust) in the soil -- Applying BD preps to the soil and grapevines -- Using natural sprays rather than fungicides or insecticides KALLESKE’S TRADITIONAL, MINIMAL INTERVENTION APPROACH IN THE WINEY

ADDS NO TANNINS, ENZYMES OR FINING S ’ AGENTS WINES Relies on natural yeasts for primary fermentation and natural malolactic NATURALLY bacteria for malolactic CLARIFIES ITS WINES fermentation WITH RACKING AND NO FILTRATION KALLESKE BATTLE OF BOSWORTH’S ORGANIC CONVERSION

-- Runs its vineyards as it would have before synthetic fertilisers and pesticides came along -- Uses soursob (a flower used in the fight against weeds) for weed management -- Employs modified vineyard machinery to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact -- Has undergone extensive revegetation, removing problematic species and replanting natives Photo courtesy of Joch Bosworth Joch of courtesy Photo CULLEN WINES' 2003 2006 Certified organic Voluntarily offset ENVIRONMENTAL and converted its carbon footprint to biodynamic by purchasing TIMELINE farming. carbon credits.

1998 2004 2014 Switched to organic First vineyard (Cullen) Installed a 45-kilowatt viticulture, implementing received certified solar-energy system, drains, composting and biodynamic status; which provides cover crops. second (Mangan) for 40% of Cullen’s in 2008. average consumption. THE RISE OF ALTERNATIVE VARIETIES IN AUSTRALIA

-- Arneis -- Nebbiolo -- Barbera -- Nero d’Avolo -- Fiano -- Sangiovese -- Gamay -- Tempranillo -- Grüner Veltliner -- Touriga Nacional -- Montepulciano -- Vermentino ENSURING AUSTRALIA’S GENERATIONS-OLD VINEYARDS, VITICULTURE AND WINEMAKING ENDURE AND EXCITE FOR YEARS TO COME. THANK YOU