| 59 Mt Difficulty Wines REGIONAL T T Aimee Wilson A vineyard with an environmental focus Mt Difficulty practises ethical viticulture with minimal intervention. Sustainability has been a key part of Mt Difficulty in Bannockburn ever since the vineyard and winery was established back in the early 2000s. Winemaker Greg Lane says processing a significant volume of grapes has made the company mindful of having the lowest impact on the environment as possible. The living roof on top of the barrel hall not only conserves energy through evaporative cooling, but also encourages biodiversity, by using processed water from winemaking for irrigation. Mimicking an underground cave in France, the subterranean barrel room “is as good as it gets above ground,” and was the largest of its kind in the Southern hemisphere when it was built in 2012. Mt Difficulty practises ethical viticulture with minimal intervention, and only has very targeted use of herbicides where necessary. The sustainable wood-chip-fired boiler was also well ahead of its time when it was built, but will soon be decommissioned and replaced with a state-of-the-art electric solar system. “We want to move to electrifying everything so we’re super efficient,” Greg says.. Moving the vineyard management all back in-house is another major change for the company – no longer contracting out the work. “We’re trying to go back to improving soil health and keeping the living roots in the soil to allow the vines to access nutrients,” says Greg. Mt Difficulty has some of the oldest vines in the region, having been planted in 1991, so it was important to look after the soil biology. The company has also pioneered a new waste-reduction technology, called Biochar. The ancient process reuses old vines by breaking them down to a unique form of charcoal, which can be used instead of fertiliser, reducing carbon emissions. Then there’s the state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant, which is testament to Mt Difficulty’s intention to do all they can to protect and enhance the environment. Once upon a time they used 10 litres of water for every litre of wine. “Now we’re working hard to get that down to just three litres,” Greg says. Finally, one of the most important sustainability changes is the recycled glass bottles. In an industry dominated by overseas coal-powered glass production, Mt Difficulty has chosen to bottle its wines in New Zealand, using locally sourced products. Mt Difficulty remains focused on the highend market, and still sells a significant portion of its wine domestically to loyal Kiwis. Greg says the company recognises that people are moderating their drinking behaviour nowadays, and are looking for more quality and authenticity. “Our sales are quite unique and we don’t take that for granted. So we’re looking after that domestic presence, but we’re also seeing increased demand from overseas.” Australia continues to be the biggest market for Pinot Noir, followed by the United States and then the UK. “The story is getting out there about the quality of our white wines, and I feel positive about our brand because our reputation is already strong,” Greg says. “Any win for the Central Otago wine industry is great for the whole region.” “We’re trying to go back to improving soil health and keeping the living roots in the soil to allow the vines to access nutrients.” Septic Tanks | Port A Loo Cleaning | Mud Sump Cleaning | Irrigation Jetting | E uent Removal Hydro Excavation | Port A Loo Hire | Grease Trap servicing | Wine Waste Removal | Event Suppliers 0800 752 553 o ce@sjallenholdings.co.nz www.sjallenholdings.co.nz www.facebook.com/SJAllenHoldings Specialising in ... • Electric motor controls installation & repairs • Electronic Innovations • Electrical design & installations • Industrial Process & control | 4 McBride Crescent, Cromwell | 027 245 6472 03 445 1139
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