Green Awards 2014: the winners revealed

California, New Zealand and Chile featured prominently in the 2014 Drinks Business Green Awards, which were announced yesterday in London at The Ivy.

Winners in the 2014 Drinks Business Green Awards were announced at The Ivy

For the second year running the Wine Institute of California was given the Amorim Sustainability Award for a generic organisation, while Bonterra winemaker Robert Blue was handed the Lifetime Achievement Award for his 25-year dedication to organic viticulture at one of the world’s most high profile organic producers.

Meanwhile New Zealand’s Yealands Family Wines was named International Green Company of the year, and Chile’s VSPT Wine Group was given the Ethical Company of the Year award.

The awards were presented at The Club at The Ivy in London yesterday where green-minded members of the drinks trade enjoyed organic wines from Torres and Yealands, organic Prosecco from Case Paolin, as well as sustainably-sourced Welsh water from Ty Nant.

Other winners at the event included Pietie le Roux from La Motte Wine Estate, who was named Green Personality of the Year, Jascots Wine Merchants, who took home the Green Retailer of the Year award, while the UK Green Company of the Year award was given to Kingsland.

Liberty Wines was handed a special commendation for its new carbon neutral status, while Jackson Family Wines was also given a commendation for its ethical approach to business, and Nomacorc was named as the Best Green Launch for its stopper made using plant-based polymers.

Finally, the Amorim Sustainability Award for Spirits was given to Irish Distillers and the same award for wine was handed to Les Vignerons de Buzet, a French co-operative with a strong environmental and ethical bent.

A full analysis of each of the winners green credentials, including comments from the judges, will appear in the June issue of the drinks business.

The list of winners are below.

Best Logistics and Supply Chain Green Initiative of the Year

Winner: Carbotek

Best Green Launch of the Year

Special commendation: Viña Palo Alto

Winner: Nomacorc

Amorim Sustainability Award for Wine

Special commendation: Bonterra Organic Vineyards.

Winner: Les Vignerons de Buzet

Amorim Sustainability Award for spirits

Winner: Irish Distillers

Amorim Sustainability Award for Generics

Winner: The Wine Institute of California

Ethical Company of the Year

Special commendation: Jackson Family Wines

Winner: VSPT Wine Group

UK Green Company of the Year

Special commendation: Liberty Wines

Winner: Kingsland

International Green Company of the Year.

Runner-up: VSPT Wine Group

Winner: Yealands Family Wines

Green Retailer of the Year

Special commendation: Adnams

Winner: Jascots Wine Merchants

Green Personality of the Year

Runner-up: Anna Hooper from Cape Jaffa Wines

Winner: Pietie le Roux from La Motte Wine Estate

Lifetime Achievement Award

Robert Blue, Bonterra Organic Vineyards

Bonterra’s Robert Blue