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Environmental Story
These measures include:
• Re-use of winery waste water.
• Water use minimization program.
• Storm water re use on vineyards.
• Re vegetation of creek line habitat
• Utilization of sheep as weed control in the woodlot rather than herbicides.
• 100% re-use of grape skins, seeds and stalks.
• Low chemical use.
Winery waste water re-use
During the wine making process waste water is produced. This waste water is collected by the winery and treated in a holding tank before being released into a 10 hectare woodlot which has been planted to 14,000 predominantly Casuarina Glauca trees. BVE recycles 100% of its waste water, which amounts to 1.96 litres for every litre of wine produced.
The 10 hectare plot was re vegetated by the winery in 2001 and 2002. This paddock had been denuded many years previously by a local farmer to run sheep. All of the wastewater produced by the winery is now irrigated onto this woodlot. The trees are monitored continually to ensure good health, and they now stand some 7 metres in height and are flourishing.
Storm water re-use and diversion
South Australia is the driest State on the driest continent in the world. The average rainfall in the Barossa Valley is 550 mm. Water is a very valuable asset here and something that needs to be harnessed where possible, to lessen the need to draw water supplies from other means causing a strain on the environment.
BVE has devised a system to collect storm water from the pavement, road and roof areas of the winery, and then divert it through a gross pollutant tank down to a small dam. This water is irrigated out onto the vineyard areas during summer. During winter if the dam is full and it continues raining, the excess water is diverted to a creek to assist with environmental flows.
Due to the topography of the vineyard there are also many waterways within the vineyard. All the water collected in these waterways is diverted to the creek, again to assist with environmental flows. The creek is dry for most of the year so diverting
water to this area is valuable to the intermittent pools, which exist along the creek line.
Tree planting and rehabilitation
Tree planting has been conducted in two main areas, namely the woodlot where 14,000 trees have been planted, and along the creek where much of our water is diverted.
Prior to the establishment of the woodlot, the area was an overgrazed paddock. This area is now a haven for native birds, kangaroos, hares, sheep and insects. The ground under the trees is no longer tilled, and endemic species of grasses are beginning to establish themselves.
Along the creek, there was much erosion occurring. Feral palm trees, olives, fruit trees and bamboo were invading the area. The total creek line has been eradicated of feral trees and replanted with native blue and red gums along its length. Under storey shrubs of acacia have also been sporadically planted. These plantings will hopefully increase the eco system diversity, improving the overall health of the area.
The Vineyard
The vineyard area was a badly eroded paddock, prior to establishment of the vines. It has now been set up to minimise run off and erosion of soil into adjacent creeks. 96% of the vineyard is planted to a fescue mid-row crop which reduces erosion and weed growth. The grass is perennial (dying in summer and regrowing inwinter) and it eliminates the requirement to cultivate the mid-row area thus reducing soil compaction issues leading to better soil structure and a better soil environment.
Grape stalks/seeds/skins
During the wine making process grapes are crushed. Waste is produced during this process in the form of skins, seeds, leaf and stalks. Stalks and leaves constitute 96% of our total crush. 100% of this material is recycled on site.
Stalks and leaf are collected from the crusher, and the material is used as mulch over the winery gardens that were established in 2001. The material is spread to a thickness of approximately 150mm. It produces a dense mat, which within a week loses about 50% of its weight, forming a thick crusty material around the trees where it is placed. It is quite impermeable to most weed growth making it an ideal weed mat. This weed mat normally breaks down to nothing over a period of around two years.
All this material is 100 percent recycled on site.
Grape Marc (fermented skins and seeds) which makes up 14 % of our total crush is sent to to Tarac Distillers in the Barossa Valley. It is used for alcohol distillation as well as for the production of a relatively new product called Vinlife. This product is an antioxidant in the form of a liquid, and it is sold to the processed food industry to improve the health benefits of their goods.
Material is received back from TARAC after processing and recycled as mulch on the vineyard and gardens.
Sheep versus herbicide use
When the woodlot was initially planted, herbicide was required to control weeds. In 2004, once the trees had reached a height where sheep would not damage them, sheep were moved back in as an alternative weed control.
Since then no chemicals have been used in the woodlot.
This successful trial will be repeated in a vineyard which is situated adjacent to the woodlot. A fescue will initially be established and then sheep will be moved in during the winter months, aiming to reduce if not eliminate the use of herbicide in this area.
If this is successful, the winery would look to fence off the remaining vineyard from the creek and main winery areas, and graze sheep in this newly formed and controlled area.
Low chemical use
In the Barossa Valley, we are in the ideal situation where pest and disease pressure is generally low. As a result chemical use within the vineyard area is kept to a minimum.
BVE are exploring the elimination of herbicides using sheep over the company owned vineyards. Fungicide use is minimal and pesticides are not used in the company vineyards at all.
