Riverland Wine Industry Hub

Sustainability as a long-term plan

Sustainable Riverland Wine: Growing a Legacy is a podcast series produced by Riverland Wine and supported by Wine Australia [https://www.wineaustralia.com/]. Hosted by Kerrie Lush, it explores what’s involved in becoming certified through Sustainable Winegrowing Australia [https://sustainablewinegrowing.com.au/] and why it’s important for Riverland wine grape growers. Riverland Wine [https://www.riverlandwine.com.au/] is committed to helping growers focus on product diversity, upskilling for market growth, and adopting environmentally friendly viticulture practices. This episode features Sheridan Alm, she is the business manager at her family’s Starr’s Reach Vineyard at Yatco, between Loxton and Moorook in South Australia’s Riverland. She says investing in the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification is about building a relationship with winemakers as part of a long-term plan – not just getting a sale this season. She says being certified has proven to be a good marketing tool for their grapes.

Grower’s Wine Group – supporting growers through the process

Sustainable Riverland Wine: Growing a Legacy is a podcast series produced by Riverland Wine and supported by Wine Australia [https://www.wineaustralia.com/]. Hosted by Kerrie Lush, it explores what’s involved in becoming certified through Sustainable Winegrowing Australia [https://sustainablewinegrowing.com.au/] and why it’s important for Riverland wine grape growers. Riverland Wine [https://www.riverlandwine.com.au/] is committed to helping growers focus on product diversity, upskilling for market growth, and adopting environmentally friendly viticulture practices. Grower’s Wine Group at Waikerie is well on its way to having all its growers certified through Sustainable Winegrowing Australia. Cindy Kroehn is the health, safety, environment and quality officer at the winery. She says the majority of their customers are wanting a consistent product year after year. Cindy says the certification process is helping Grower’s Wine Group achieve that consistency. Lucy Clements is the general manager of Growers Wine Group at Waikerie. She says, the sustainability requirements of their customers, vary from country to country.

All growers large and small – Treasury Wine Estates

Sustainable Riverland Wine: Growing a Legacy is a podcast series produced by Riverland Wine and supported by Wine Australia [https://www.wineaustralia.com/]. Hosted by Kerrie Lush, it explores what’s involved in becoming certified through Sustainable Winegrowing Australia [https://sustainablewinegrowing.com.au/] and why it’s important for Riverland wine grape growers. Riverland Wine is committed to helping growers focus on product diversity, upskilling for market growth, and adopting environmentally friendly viticulture practices. Bridget Murray is a grower liaison officer with Treasury Wine Estates, she says the winery has been on the front foot with encouraging growers to undertake this process. And it’s not just the larger growers who are taking on board the accreditation process, Ann Biele from Loxton became certified in the lead up to last vintage as it was a requirement of Treasury Wine Estates, of which she is contracted to.

Meeting the market in sustainability

Sustainable Riverland Wine: Growing a Legacy is a podcast series produced by Riverland Wine and supported by Wine Australia [https://www.wineaustralia.com/]. Hosted by Kerrie Lush, it explores what’s involved in becoming accredited through Sustainable Winegrowing Australia [https://sustainablewinegrowing.com.au/] and why it’s important for Riverland wine grape growers. Riverland Wine [https://www.riverlandwine.com.au/] is committed to helping growers focus on product diversity, upskilling for market growth, and adopting environmentally friendly viticulture practices. In this episode we meet Seamus O’Farthataigh, the owner of Wine Movement who has a personal mission to reduce his own environmental footprint and that of the wines he produces. He says, it’s also what the market is beginning to demand, particularly the Scandinavian countries. Erin Jones is a wine grape grower from Waikerie, she admits it’s been a bit of process to become accredited after she and her husband took over the family vineyard in 2022. But she says, it’s also been a good opportunity to gain a better understanding into the business.

Grower and Vintner – Ashley Ratcliff

Sustainable Riverland Wine: Growing a Legacy is a podcast series produced by Riverland Wine and supported by Wine Australia [https://www.wineaustralia.com/]. Hosted by Kerrie Lush, it explores what’s involved in becoming accredited through Sustainable Winegrowing Australia [https://sustainablewinegrowing.com.au/] and why it’s important for Riverland wine grape growers. Riverland Wine [https://www.riverlandwine.com.au/] is committed to helping growers focus on product diversity, upskilling for market growth, and adopting environmentally friendly viticulture practices. In this episode we speak to Ashley Ratcliff, from Ricca Terra Farms and Ricca Terra Vintners. Sustainability is something Ashley and his wife Holly have been working on since they bought their first vineyard in the Riverland in 2003 by planting varieties of vines best suited to the region’s climatic conditions. They’re now Sustainable Winegrowing Australia accredited and they’re requiring the same of their suppliers.