Australia’s Best Sustainable Wineries, Breweries, and Distilleries

Sustainable practices are becoming increasingly important in the food and beverage industry, and Australia is leading the way when it comes to sustainable wineries, breweries, and distilleries. From organic farming methods that reduce carbon emissions to innovative packaging solutions that help preserve freshness while minimising waste—there's a lot to be excited about! 

Whether you're an avid wine connoisseur looking for an eco-friendly Pinot Noir or a craft beer enthusiast on the hunt for low-impact ales—this post covers some of Australia's top sustainably produced drinks. Read on to find out more about our favourite green producers crafting delicious beverages without compromising environmental standards.

Let's get started!

Sustainability in Distilling

The subject of distilling sustainability will be one that is debated for the coming years, and it is probable that we will continue to speak about it throughout the rest of our lives. In a previous post on this site, we discussed sustainability; however, there are numerous other aspects to take into consideration. 

Recycling heat, finding new uses for leftover grain, maintaining a local presence, and removing waste appropriately are still crucial in today's world. Still, there are numerous other ways to assist your company in becoming more environmentally friendly.

The hidden message of sustainability hasn't changed, despite the fact that the word has taken on several additional implications associated with the expanding green movement. This makes sustainable an interesting word. However, being sustainable does not immediately imply to have a zero-carbon footprint, to operate solely on sustainable power, or to produce no trash. 

Even though we can't cover it all in only one blog article, we can reach on a couple of extra subject matters to get you starting to think about the adjustments you can incorporate to get moving in the proper direction or at least considering things that can be done. 

Trying to make a product that is sustainable and adaptable sufficiently to continue through the decades requires a lot of work, and although we can't accommodate all that needs to be covered, we can at least get you pondering about the things that can be done.

Modifications of a minor nature can have a significant impact. For example, suppose you expand the power capacity that comes from solar and wind power in places where it is practical to do so. In that case, you could have a significant influence not only on the environment but also on your variable expenses. 

However, if you can offset even a little portion of your total demand by powering your lights and HLT with solar energy, then you should do so. Your kettle may be too large to operate solely on solar power. Those seemingly insignificant adjustments can end up saving you a significant amount of cash over the span of a year.

Alternative renewable energy sources are available in the event that solar cannot be utilised. Although converting to geothermal cooling may have a high initial cost, it has the potential to significantly reduce the expenses of temperature management over time. 

This might be a significant deal for you if you're trying to establish a legacy firm, and if you possess an exit plan that entails selling your company after four years, this could make your proposal more appealing to potential buyers. Of course, the cost-benefit analysis will differ depending on the specifics of each situation; therefore, you should conduct your research, run some statistics, and determine what aspects of your company strategy are most beneficial.

In the coming years, water will still be an increasing source of concern, as it has been in recent years. If you want to establish a company that lasts for generations, you need to be careful of how it's utilised and practise sustainable distillation. This will assist your company for a long time. If reusing the water in your business is problematic or just not viable because of whatever cause, it might be worthwhile to look into bringing in closed-loop systems in order to cut waste. 

These systems work by continuously recycling the water. In the last section, we discussed geothermal power; however, you may also use solar water heating or any one of a number of other choices to integrate your water and power networks and retain as much as feasible from going down the sink.

Constructing a legacy enterprise that will still be in operation in 18 or 80 years is what sustainability is all about. This ensures that the spirits you are storing away now will be capable of achieving their full prospects and that your grandkids will be capable of visiting the corporation that you started from scratch and constructed into a legacy. 

You'll be capable of keeping items out of landfills and, ideally, keep more cash in your wallet if you can find methods for reusing resources of any kind, whether they be resources, power, or outdated pieces of machinery. 

There is no answer that is applicable to every situation, nor will every tactic be beneficial to everyone to the same extent. However, you will be able to determine the most effective approach to incorporating more sustainability into your company if you give some thought to where you would like to be in the coming five, ten, or fifty years by doing so.

Don’t forget to grab a drink at Tar Barrel! With our range of craft beers, ciders and spirits - all made on the Distillery Mornington Peninsula using only the freshest ingredients – you’re sure to find something amazing. So come join us at Tar Barrel for an experience like no other!

Where To Find Australia’s Best Sustainable Alcohol

Aris Natural Wine Co.

Ari's Natural Wines, located in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, makes a variety of delicious, all-natural wines by handcraft. In accordance with the core philosophy "nothing added, nothing is taken away," the family-owned firm does not employ the utilisation of energy or pumps in the production of its products. 

Because all of Ari's wines are untamed, matured, unfiltered, unpolished, and do not include any additional sulphur, drinking a bottle of Pash & Pop will not give you the migraine that was induced by consuming a drink (if you can really call it like that) with an extremely vaguely similar name when you were younger.

Manly Spirits Co.

The Northern Beaches of Sydney served as the inspiration for Manly Spirits Company, which not only makes exquisite spirits suitable for every event but also places a strong emphasis on environmental responsibility and waste prevention. The First Nations producers and local farmers provide the range with sustainably sourced herbs, which are then utilised to infuse the products.

Lemons that are discarded after being utilised to produce limoncello are put to work by a local juice company; raspberries that were utilised to produce raspberry gin jam are repurposed from their use in the production of Lilly Pilly Pink Gin; and the list could continue. Each step of the procedure has been carefully deliberated over, with an emphasis placed on minimising negative impacts on the environment.

4 Pines Beer

In order to ensure that beer may be produced in a natural way for many decades to come, 4 Pines is actively working to lessen the negative effects that its operations have on the surrounding ecosystem. The business is well on its path to achieving a sustainable future filled with foamy beverages by reducing the amount of water it uses, setting a goal to be entirely fueled by renewable energy sources, and reusing the waste produced from the supply chain by transforming yeast into a sustainable energy source.

Unico Zelo

Wines for a younger generation of consumers in Australia are being crafted by Unico Zelo, a company that is at the forefront of environmentally responsible winemaking. This wine firm is so open and honest about its efforts to improve the environment that it has made its full sustainability tracking available online for anyone to look at. 

This demonstrates the organisation's commitment to being an industry leader in terms of transparency. Unico Zelo has achieved the highest possible levels of impact on society and the environment in Australia, earning it the designation of B Corporation Certification. In addition, the wines, in addition to having a pleasant flavour, will look beautiful on the family dinner that you have set up.

Stone & Wood

The clock-off beers you drink are guaranteed to be environmentally sustainable thanks to this Certified B Corporation situated in Byron Bay. Stone & Wood has its sights set on turning beer into a powerful force for good, and as part of that mission, the company is working to bring its levels of electricity and water use during manufacturing on par with those of the most effective 25 per cent of the world's indie brewers. 

The business even went so far as to produce a beer made with recycled water to celebrate World Water Day in the year 2020. I do not even understand what other measure of dedication to the cause there is other than that.

Antipodes Gin Co.

Choose an option that is better for the environment while shopping for your next go-to gin because the traditional gin and tonic is a summertime staple as well as a current fave of mine. Antipodes Gin is Australia's first gin to be certified organic, carbon neutral, and devoid of pesticides and chemicals. 

It is also the world's first carbon-neutral gin. Antipodes creates their gin in Canberra by distilling it with power that is entirely derived from sustainable sources, then blending it with a variety of locally sourced Australian botanicals to impart robust herbal aromas. And if gin is really not your style, Antipodes also makes a variety of other alcohol and liqueurs that may be used in place of gin in any drink you can think of.

The Hidden Sea

Each time a bottle of The Hidden Sea wine is purchased, the business makes a commitment to the removal of ten plastic bottles from our waterways (oceans and rivers) in an effort to reduce the amount of pollution caused by these bottles. Its grapes are cultivated on a one-of-a-kind winery site in South Australia, which contains a primitive whale fossil somewhere under it. 

This historical whale fossil contributes to the abundance and fertility of the land on the parcel, making it an ideal location for growing grapes. In addition, the corporation has set a goal to clear the ocean of one billion plastic bottles designed for an one usage by the year 2030. A Hidden Sea wine is among the most guilt-free glasses of wine you'll possibly consume as a result of their commitment to achieving this aim and engaging in a wide variety of environmentally friendly processes.

Natural Distilling Co.

The Natural Distilling Company takes great satisfaction in cultivating its ingredients and sustainably distilling its spirits. The company is located in the centre of Gippsland in Victoria. The Natural Distilling Company's line of gin and vodka, which is produced from hemp, is going to become your new go-to ingredient for any, including all cocktails. Hemp is among the plants that are the most useful, ecological, and good for the environment plant on the planet.

Notwasted

Notwasted is the website that you should visit if you are seeking for a location to purchase one or more environmentally friendly bottles of wine. It should come as no surprise that they provide shipping the same day in Sydney and shipping the day after that in Melbourne. 

Every bottle of Notwasted wine comes from a biodynamic or ecological farm, and the firm itself is working towards becoming entirely carbon neutral by the year 2024. Try it out. Therefore, if pet nats in colours reminiscent of the setting sun and wine bottles, that can also serve as decoration appeal to you.

Sustainable Wineries

Gemtree Wines

The devotion of Gemtree Wines, located in McLaren Vale, to the sustainable and organic creation of wine runs as deep as the decades-old vines that they tend. The organic and biodynamic certifications held by the vineyards testify for themselves, and so does their dedication to enhancing the environment for the sake of following generations.

The vineyard is nourished by cow manure and recycled water, and solar energy is used to generate electricity, the watering system, the winery, and the cellar door. Flocks of sheep are used instead of synthetic pesticides to maintain weeds under control. Surface quartz inhibits yeast infections and eliminates the necessity of synthetic fungicides. 

At the Best of Wine Tourism awards in Bordeaux, the Fleurieu Peninsula winery was named the world's best winery for Sustainable Wine Tourism. The final wine is superb and is at its peak when savoured on the terrace of the Fleurieu Peninsula cellar door, which looks out over the vineyard.

Hutton Vale Farm

A local establishment that is both a winery and a farm, Hutton Vale Farm, has adopted a responsible strategy to the development of both wine and food. The Angas family has been farming for seven generations, and they think that as the present caretakers of the land, they have a responsibility to the soil to extract only what is required and to give something back whenever possible so that it can be used by coming generations.

In practise, they place emphasis on the conservation of water, the reduction of pesticide usage, the use of solar electricity, and the replanting of natural habitats both on the farm and in the surrounding area. Sit down at the historical farm tasting room for a tutored sampling that is accompanied by a regional produce plate. Alternatively, check into their quaint onsite hotel, which serves as the ideal base from which to explore the Barossa area.

Ngeringa

Ngeringa, a leading organic winery in South Australia, is committed to the production of wines that are both sustainably produced and mindful of the environment. The Adelaide Hills winery is located close to Mount Barker on a farm that spans 75 hectares, five of which are devoted to the cultivation of grapes. 

Their sustainable solution to farming and viticulture is immediately apparent from the moment you arrive, with a straw bale tasting room and vineyard smoothly entangled with the farm. The farm is residence to Scottish Highland cows, sheep, and chickens, and it also features a thriving patch of land that is brimming with vegetables and vast revegetation seedlings. While you're here, you can sample wine that was produced on the estate as well as wine that was bottled there.

Paxton Wines

In McLaren Vale, Paxton Wines was an early adopter of organic practices in both the cultivation of grapes and the manufacturing of wine. Since 2011, the property that is held by a family has really been board certified as organic, and the owners use biodynamic procedures, which include the use of natural treatments and manures. 

Recycled water is utilised to water the vineyard at Paxton, and solar energy is employed to operate the cellar door, both of which demonstrate the company's commitment to environmental responsibility. Their wines are crafted with the utmost care and attention to detail by the husband-and-wife winemaking team of Kate Goodman and Ashleigh Seymour, who use only grapes grown on the property and use as little interference as possible.

D’Arenberg Wine

Across the street at d'Arenberg Wines, the biggest organic wine grape producer in Australia, they employ a comprehensive approach to the creation of wine as well as a dedication to sustainability, and both of these things are very much alive and well. 

Organic wines are distinguished by their reliance on sheep agistment, solar electricity, and ecological disease management, as well as by the balance between environmentally sustainable production practises and cutting-edge procedures. 

This harmony can be seen in each glass of organic wine. So, where would you recommend going to get a taste of their ecological, organic, and vegan variants? At the one-of-a-kind d'Arenberg Cube cellar door, a wine adventure spread across five levels that gives the illusion of gliding above beautiful vineyards.

Hayes Family Wines

Hayes Family Wines, a small winery located in the Barossa Valley, places a strong emphasis on using minimally invasive techniques and following certified organic procedures. Winemaker Andrew Seppelt leans on the expertise of previous generations to manage the vineyard in a sustainable manner. He avoids the use of artificial herbicides and pesticides and restricts the amount of additives used in the production of wine.

Solar power sources approximately sixty per cent of the winery's and cellar door's power requirements, collected rainwater is used to provide the winery and cellar door, native tree seedlings bring in invertebrates that are advantageous to the winery, and organic grasses and composts work to enhance the quality of the soil. The ultimate product is an organic wine that has won multiple awards, is kind to both you and the ecosystem, and can be enjoyed by vegans without worry.

Hither & Yon

The Hither & Yon type of wine is the first in South Australia to be classified as carbon neutral. The dedication that Hither & Yon has to the ecosystem is well-rooted, as seen by the fact that they place a strong emphasis on environmentally friendly practises such as regenerative farming and nature preservation.

It is thanks to the land-improvement programme that the vineyards of McLaren Vale have such a slight impact on the surrounding ecosystem. This programme includes sustainable viticulture and restorative agriculture, biodiversity control, the re-establishment of native passageways, and the cultivation of climate-appropriate grape varieties. As a result, the final wines are a testament to the intricacies of the Fleurieu Peninsula's region and can be tasted to their full potential at the winery's Willunga cellar door.

Angove Family Wine

Angove Family Wine is also a pioneer in organic and biodynamic cultivation, which results in great fruit and organic wine. This concept of sustainability can be found across McLaren Vale and throughout the Riverland region. Indian Runner Ducks and sophisticated technology are used to preserve 430 hectares of organically grown vineyards (some of which include some of the oldest Shiraz and Grenache vineyards in the area) free of pests and weeds. 

The cultivation of the grapes and the production of the wine both utilise absolutely no man-made chemicals or other inputs that are not organic. You may try some of Angove's certified organic gin, which is called Blind Tiger Organic Gin, at their second vineyard and cellar door, which is located in the Riverland region of South Australia. Citrusy and dry, this London-style gin is produced with hand-picked herbs and natural wheat that is distilled in a traditional small-batch still.