New Zealand Organic Wines

Organic winegrowing has bumbled along for some time in New Zealand, being only truly undertaken by a handful of wineries who have pioneered the way for other growers to seriously take notice. The argument for organics is quite simple – No pesticides/chemicals on your grapes or in your wine improves the flavour profile of the wine. It also enriches the soils the vines are planted in over the long-term, further enhancing the quality of the grapes. This ‘bumbling’ is now gaining serious momentum with an estimated 100% increase in organically grown grapes between 2008 & 2009. There are now enough organic wines with strong brand names to demonstrate that the quality of the wine is not adversely affected – indeed supporters of organics would argue it is enhanced. Some of the more notable examples out of New Zealand include:

Some of the bigger brands in NZ including Pernod Ricard & Villa Maria also have organic vineyards as part of their winegrowing programmes.

Aside from the quality argument, there is also a growing market for organic products in NZ, Australia and other global markets. What has been lacking previously, the commercial argument, is now gathering some steam. Evidence suggests that ‘organics’ can lead to higher price points as consumers expect higher production costs from Earth-friendly techniques. Interestingly though, a recent profile article on Yealands Estate pointed out that some eco techniques can lead to unexpected commercial benefits besides a higher price point. The recent introduction of babydoll sheep on the Yealands vineyards is expected to save them $1.5m in mowing and spraying costs, as well as providing separate revenue streams in wool and lamb chops.... A really good fact sheet on some of the key benefits of converting to organics for winegrowers can be found HERE

The Future?