NZ vineyards to be 20% organic by 2020

New Zealand’s organic wine producers have vowed to make 20% of the country’s vineyards organic by 2020.

The campaign, organised by the 140 members of Organic Winegrowers New Zealand (OWNZ), seeks to share and promote organic practices.

The amount of vineyard land under organic certification in New Zealand has tripled in the past three years, with almost 1,500 hectares of vines on 115 vineyards now managed organically – 4.5% of all vineyard land.

"By 2020, if we achieve 20% of the vinelands in our country as being certified organic and biodynamic, it will be a giant step towards enforcing our precious environmental image all over the world”, James Millton, chairman of Organic Winegrowers New Zealand said.

New Zealand Winegrowers, the national organisation for New Zealand’s grapegrowers and winemakers, is supportive of the campaign.
 
"We see the expansion of organics over the next decade as an important component of the industry’s commitment to sustainability and are confident it will strongly support our brand positioning in global markets”, said NZW chief executive officer, Philip Gregan.

The country is also committed to becoming 100% sustainable by 2012, as defined by the framework laid out by the independently-audited sustainability programme, Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand .

New Zealand’s organic wine industry is thriving as growers strive to differentiate themselves in a tough marketplace, but for some producers becoming certified organic will be a slow process.

“Organics and biodynamics is the way of the future, and I’m keen to embrace it, but I’m happy for it to be a slow process”, Greywacke chief winemaker Kevin Judd told the drinks business. “It’s hard to make a sudden change”, he added.

“The environment is very important to us and we’re working towards being fully sustainable by 2012”, Sacred Hill winemaker Heather Laibach said.

Lucy Shaw 12.01.2011