Sustaining Australia

The impact of humans on the environment has perhaps been felt more seriously in Australia than any other country. So, it is Australia that must take the lead in sustainable winemaking.

Great wine comes from the vineyard. So, first of all, we must look after the soil better to improve vine health and produce better fruit. From our experience, the best quality fruit, from the healthiest soil, comes from organic vineyards.

While it is a slow and often tricky process to convert all vineyards to organic practices, "biological farming" - using microbiology as a way of improving the quality of yields without the use of inorganic fertilisers, pesticides or gene modification - is a viable means of moving towards more sustainable techniques.

Progressive Australian wineries are now leading the way on this front.

Water management is clearly our biggest concern and it is the seriousness of the problem which is spurring the most significant environmental developments. While we normally associate innovation with winemaking techniques, the ongoing water shortages are leading to innovations in water management. Film technology, for example, can dramatically reduce water requirements in both the vineyards and the winery.

Australians and Australian winemakers are a strong-willed bunch -and the environmental challenge is bringing about a determined response.

Mark Wilson is general manager, national accounts UK, at De Bortoli

• Harpers Says...