Environment
- Managing Director Darren De Bortoli
As a family owned wine company we must leave a legacy. We need to operate in a manner respectful of the environment, that will enable us to create better wines from healthy vines and soils and be sustainable for generations to come.
At De Bortoli we are taking an innovative approach to the environment and sustainability. At our largest winery site in Bilbul the initiatives are being driven by Managing Director Darren De Bortoli and Operations Manager Rob Glastonbury. De Bortoli is working on key areas including water recycling, waste management, traffic and noise containment, visual impacts, flora and fauna and air quality management. The ultimate aim is be a Zero Waste Winery.
- Operations Manager Rob Glastonbury has been responsible for implementing De Bortoli Wines environmental initiatives.
Winery waste water is treated organically and used to irrigate crops which feed local livestock. A low energy aeration system which pre-treats waste water before irrigation has been installed. Not only is this beneficial for the environment but it is also giving us cost savings in excess of $160,000 per year in electricity. This also gives credibility to our participation in Greenhouse Challenge Plus.
At our Yarra Valley plant we operate a full anaerobic/aerobic biological treatment plant. The water generated from this plant is equivalent to or better than "Class C" irrigation water standards.
De Bortoli is a signatory to the National Packaging Covenant which aims to decrease the environmental impacts arising from packaging materials. This includes better design and production processes, disposal of used packaging materials and facilitating re-use and recycling. The aim is to reach the 65% recycling target by 2010.
De Bortoli was a driving force behind the Riverina Winemaker's Association's Environment Policy. Riverina winemakers have embarked on a Grape and Wine Research Development Corporation funded study to quantify solid waste from wineries. Outcomes to date have been a register of recyclers, a seminar on environmental legislation and enforcement, a quarterly newsletter, and a TAFE training course designed specifically for winery employees, aimed at improving environmental awareness.
- Irrigating the lucerne crop
The company is also involved with Australian Wine Industry Stewardship Programme aimed at improving environmental performance across the entire industry. The Bilbul Winery is a trial site for the introduction of a spray diary insert aimed at increasing environmental awareness amongst grape growers. The information provided by the spray diaries is used by the winery to respond to environmental assurance concerns of domestic and overseas markets. This is an important step in our quest to involve our grape growers in the sustainability aspects of the Australian Wine Industry.
Another company initiative is the ’17 Trees Program’ whereby 17 trees are planted for each company vehicle in an effort to offset the effects of our fleet.
As part of the expansion and environmental initiatives the company needs to address traffic and noise containment and visual impacts. There will be lots of massed plantings of hardy drought resistant trees and shrubs to ameliorate the effects of the expansion plus a 15 acre garden currently being constructed which will accommodate the much anticipated new Cellar Door. The garden features an ornamental lake which already is creating a habitat for frogs and bird life and has been stocked with native fish.
Most recently De Bortoli Wines Yarra Valley have become founding members of the environmental initiative, Food for Trees. De Bortoli Wines together with some of the biggest names in Melbourne's restaurant business have joined forces to help reduce the environmental damage being done by carbon emissions. The set-up of Food for Trees has been funded by five of the most successful businesses in Victoria's food and wine industry. These include; Grossi Florentino, De Bortoli Wines Yarra Valley, Soul Mamas, 100 Mile Café, All Nations Hotel. As Leanne De Bortoli put it, "Consumers want and should be able to choose to minimise the environmental impact of everything they do, including eating and drinking. Food For Trees gives customers the choice of environmentally-conscious dining."
To kick of the scheme, the founding members are planting approximately three hectares of trees in the Yarra Valley, with the aim being to plant one million trees within the next 10 years. For more information on environmental programs, De Bortoli Wines are involved in please visit our programs page.
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"As Max Allen reports, the past few years have seen an upsurge of interest in all things green in the wine industry, with biodynamics moving from perceived cultish pursuit - open to widespread suspicion and derision - to mainstream regimen practised by a fast-growing list of top producers." Red, White and Green." Gourmet Traveller WINE, Max Allen, February/March 2008 - Down-to-earth guide to biodynamic wine.
In Allen's article, Rob Glastonbury talks of environmental awareness and the simple but proactive approach by De Bortoli Wines which has led to the company adopting a much cleaner, greener image. As he stated, "Now we even get the EPA ringing us for advice."