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Sauvignon blanc plentiful

in February 2010

Sauvignon blanc plentiful
Home » Lifestyle » Food & Wine
By Charmian Smith on Wed, 20 Jan 2010
Food & Wine
Click photo to enlarge

Sauvignon blanc grapes. Photo from Wikipedia Commons. With so much sauvignon blanc around at the moment, it's not surprising to find some producers trying to make theirs stand out.
Peter Yealands, who promotes the sustainability and carbon zero barrel, has bottled his sauvignon blanc in plastic - it's certainly a great deal lighter and takes up less space than a glass-bottled wine, and they claim it is more environmentally friendly and costs less to transport.

This may be open to discussion, but the wine inside is decent, minerally and assertive - just the bottle to take tramping or on a picnic.

Another producer doing something different is &Co, from Hawkes Bay, which uses a crown cap on its clear bottle.

It may be a high-tech crown cap with a plastic liner instead of the original cork invented by William Painter in 1892, but you have to find a beer-bottle opener - something not so easy these days when even beer bottles have screw-off caps.

The wine hints of sweet apricots, stonefruit and honey - not a typical New Zealand sauvignon.

IF you come across a rare bottle of Montana's sauvignon gris, don't be misled into thinking it's a blend of sauvignon blanc and pinot gris.

It's actually a grape variety in its own right, one of the many sauvignon variants originally from the French wine regions of Bordeaux and the Loire.

Sauvignon blanc (white) is the best known but there are also sauvignon vert (green), jaune (yellow), noir (black), rosé or gris (pink or grey) and violet, named according to the colour of their berries, according to Jancis Robinson in her magisterial The Oxford Companion to Wine.

Montana Showcase Series Marlborough Sauvignon Gris 2009 (about $24) will have your guests guessing, because it's has something of the herbal crispness of sauvignon blanc, but with more hints of ripe apples, stone and tropical fruit.

It's less pungent and assertive, making it more attractive to people who prefer a more restrained wine than its assertive cousin.

WINE REVIEWS

Sauvignon blanc may be bright, assertive and fruity, but within this it comes in many styles, from overt and in-your-face to more restrained. Flavours range from tropical fruits to leaner, green fruits and mineral, and some are made more complex and mouthfilling with less contact
or barrel fermentation.

Although wine sent for review is tasted blind to eliminate preconceptions, all wine tasting and evaluation is subjective. These are personal recommendations. charmian.smith@odt.co.nz

Two stars - simple, clean, enjoyable wine; three stars - good wine with varietal characteristics; four stars - very good wine with some outstanding characteristics; five stars - outstanding wine with balance and harmony that leaves you with a sense of wonder.

BEST UNDER $20

Yealands Full Circle Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009

$17.

Aromas of mineral and raindrops on hot river stones meld with sweet fruit and a bright, crisp intensity in this lively, in-your-face sauvignon.

It comes in a lightweight plastic bottle.

4 stars (out of 5)
Good value

www.yealands.co.nz

Yealands Estate Shows Conservation At It’s Best

in January 2010

As part of its ongoing commitment to the environment, carboNZero certTM certified winery, Yealands Estate, is getting behind ARK Tour - 'Concerts for Conservation'. The series of events aim to raise awareness and funds for local conservation projects.

Peter Yealands, owner and founder of Yealands Estate, is thrilled to support ARK in their quest to preserve New Zealand’s environment.
“ARK’s efforts to raise awareness of our environment and the many and various conservation projects that are underway, is highly commendable,” says Peter. “We are pleased to be able to support them by signing on as a major sponsor for this concert”.

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Related Stories on Scoop
Yealands Launches First Wine in Plastic Bottles 16/11/2009
Yealands Estate Appoints Operations Manager 13/10/2009
Yealands Estate appoints skilled duo to team 03/09/2009
Pete’s Shed Inspires The Launch Of Tempranillo 12/08/2009
Sustainable Wine And Sustainable Design 07/08/2009
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The series of concerts coincide with Yealands Estates recent release of Full Circle, a range of wines in environmentally friendly plastic bottles. Attendees will be able to taste Full Circle along with other award-winning Yealands Estate wines while connecting with nature in some of New Zealand’s most stunning locations.

The first concert in Christchurch on the 14 February will support the Canterbury native wetlands restoration project at Halswell Quarry Park, with a portion of all ticket sales going towards the project.
The second concert in Hamilton on the 20th February will be supporting a Hamilton Zoo conservation project, to save the native Hochstetter’s Frog. Funds raised will go towards the construction of a new enclosure for the frogs and will assist with the zoo’s captive breeding and research programme.

The evenings will provide families with the opportunity to enjoy some great music and fine wines for a great cause.

EVENT DETAILS - Christchurch
Tim Beveridge and Tina Cross

Sunday 14 February - 5pm
Halswell Quarry Park, Christchurch

VENT DETAILS - Hamilton

Opshop, Jordan Luck Band, Dane Rumble and Annabel Fay
Saturday 20 February - 6:30pm
Waikato Times Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival

Book online at www.ticketek.co.nz or call 0800 TICKETEK
For more information visit www.yealands.co.nz or www.ARKtour.co.nz/

Ends

California based wine importer promoting Huia's carboNZero wines

in January 2010

Via Pacifica Selections was born in the late 1990s, when Howard and Shelly Kalmer fell in love with New Zealand and its wines. The business was started at a time when New Zealand wines were not well-known, but the Kalmers’ focus on premium, estate wineries and their enthusiasm in presenting them led to success in the market.
http://www.viapacifica.com/nz.htm

International Wine Critic gives Grove Mills carbonzero certification a thumbs up

in January 2010

Jamie Goode writes; One of the bottles opened last night was a Grove Mill Riesling 2007 Marlborough, New Zealand. A very attractive, intense, piercing Riesling full of racy lime and grapefruit, with the high acid nicely countered by some residual sugar. A good buy at £8.99 from Threhser.

Prominently displayed on the label was the carboNZero logo, advertising that this wine was carbon neutral. But what exactly, in practical terms does this mean? And are we going to be seeing increasing numbers of wines sold on a green marketing ticket?

Grove Mill's website gives some more information. 'carboNZero' is managed by Landcare Research New Zealand. Grove Mill itself is a brand owned by the New Zealand Wine Company (NZWC), and they took three steps to achieve this certification. First they measured their carbon footprint. Then they tried to reduce it as much as possible. And the balance they offset. 'For NZWC we were able to purchase credits from a local carbon farmer, Ron Marriott, in the Marlborough Sounds', says the website. A 'carbon farmer'? I guess, if enough people are wanting to offset their emissions, then there's money to be made by planting trees on land you own.

When you see a wine company making a fuss on their label about their environmental credentials, it's easy to feel a bit cynical about their motivations. But the NZWC are doing this properly, and it's good to see that there's some substance behing the marketing talk.

Air New Zealand Wine Awards go Green

in November 2009

The strength and appeal of New Zealand's sustainable wine industry appears to be growing, judging by its medal haul at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards.

This year, 112 "pure" medals for sustainably produced wines were awarded, nearly double the number awarded in 2008.

Of the medals, 10 golds were awarded across pinot noir, chardonnay, gewurztraminer, cabernet sauvignon or merlot/cabernet blend, and sparkling wine varietals.

No sustainable wines received gold medals in the other nine varietals in competition.

The event itself was also carboNZero certified, meaning that emissions associated with the event were measured and reduced, and those that it could not be reduced were offset by buying carbon credits.

The event also awarded a record number of gold medals for mainstream wines, with 102 gold medals awarded across 14 wine varietals.

Yealands Launches First Wine in Plastic Bottles

in November 2009

In its quest to become the world’s most sustainable winery, Yealands Estate will become the first New Zealand winery to sell a range of wines in environmentally friendly plastic bottles – something founder Peter Yealands believes consumers will be seeing much more of.

The new Full Circle plastic-bottled Sauvignon Blanc wines are 89% lighter, generate 54% less green house gas emissions and use 19% less energy to produce than traditional 750ml glass bottles.

“From the start we wanted Full Circle to be the most sustainable wine in the New Zealand market,” says Peter Yealands. “Our winery and wines are already carboNZero certTM certified, but this takes sustainable wine production to new levels.”

Full Circle is packaged in Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), the same plastic used to package wines served on aeroplanes. Yet while critics have previously turned their noses up at plastic packaging due to concerns about oxygen entering and affecting quality, Full Circle allays these concerns.

“We have invested a lot of time and effort to ensure the wine quality is up to our usual award-winning standard,” says Peter. “The Full Circle bottles use innovative new DiamondClear™ technology which features oxygen scavengers to significantly reduce the amount of oxygen. In layman’s terms this means the quality, taste and aroma of the wine isn’t affected when consumed within the recommended 18 month period,” says Peter.

Full Circle wines will be marketed with a best before date of 18 months marked on the pack. And with most New Zealand Sauvignon wine drinkers consuming their wines within a few days of purchase, Peter doesn’t see this as a problem.

As well as providing a new option for those wine drinkers with a conscience, Full Circle provides a convenient alternative for those wanting a lightweight bottle that is easy to take on picnics, when boating and to events where glass is prohibited.

Peter points to international trends which suggest plastic bottled wine is here to stay.

“In the United Kingdom, supermarket giants Tesco and Sainsbury have introduced plastic bottles in their own-label wines to offer consumers an environmentally friendly alternative. In addition, Tim Atkin, one of the UK’s leading wine critics from the Observer, has declared war on overweight packaging by vowing to boycott wines sold in heavyweight wine bottles from his Sunday column.”

Full Circle wine bottles look different to regular bottles as they are smaller in height and width and significantly lighter too. A traditional wine bottle weighs 500gms whereas a Full Circle bottle weighs 51 grams.

This lighter bottle would offer significant emission reductions and cost savings for exports. A traditional pallet of wine carries 56 cases of wine but with Full Circle packaging can fit up to 72 cases. And to add further strength to its green credentials, the cartons are made from 100% recycled materials and the eco-labels are recyclable.

“What many consumers don’t realise is that winemaking is a hugely energy intensive business. At Yealands, we are taking every step possible to reduce the environmental impact while still producing award-winning wines,” says Peter.

And as for what’s in bottle, Full Circle Sauvignon Blanc 2009 is a vibrant fresh herbaceous wine and a long mineral finish making it a perfect match with pasta and seafood.

Full Circle wines will be available from December with a recommended retail price of $16.99.

ENDS

Wairau River wine on Top Chef

in November 2009

Big congratulations from the carboNZero programme for the great international exposure of Wairau River wine!

‘Top Chef’ on TV last Thursday night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uypXnj-FXWo

Wairau River Pinot Noir featured on this international high rating programme as 1 of 9 Pinot Noir from around the world (the only wine from NZ!), which the chefs used to match with a pork dish. The wines and dishes were sampled at the annual charity ‘Pig and Pinot’ event organised each year by last week’s guest judge – a highly respected Master Chef, Charlie Palmer. (The 9 bottles of wine was picked from one of the largest wine restaurant/cellar in America, they had a 3 storey high cabinet where the bartender is lifted in bungee harness type gear (similar to ones used by window cleaners), to browse through and pick their selection of wines.)

For a New Zealand wine to be featured alongside the world’s best is a fabulous testimony for Kiwi made product, and we were extraordinary proud to see it was one of our client!

Once again, congratulations!!

THE DRINKS BUSINESS GREEN AWARDS 2010

in November 2009

The Drinks Business Green Awards highlights and rewards leadership on environment, sustainability and climate change by drinks companies worldwide. Designed to raise awareness of green issues in our industry and boost the role of marketing in influencing consumer behaviour, the Drinks Business Green Awards provide a high-profile platform for companies to showcase their positive commitment to the planet. With support from a range of influential supporting partners and an eminent panel of expert judges, the awards emphasise how sustainability is core to development in the drinks industry.

The Drinks Business Green Awards 2010, like the environmental issues they highlight, will have an impact that extends far beyond the drinks industry and by recognising companies that strive to lessen their impact on the environment.

The Drinks Business Green Awards 2010 will be looking to award companies with the best outright environmental performance, environmental training, motivational initiatives, individual green campaign launches and ethical initiatives worldwide.

Sustainability

Sustainability concerns have never been more important for business as leading companies are coming up with new and innovative ways to reduce their overall environmental footprint, or that of their supply chain or customers. Increasingly, companies are also demonstrating the ways in which low-carbon, environmentally sustainable business strategies can also work commercially, from greener industrial processes, eco-design of products to green marketing and staff incentive schemes. These awards will be a barometer of the newest, most innovative, most ambitious and most effective initiatives by drinks companies to respond to the pressing challenges of global sustainability.

The Awards

The Drinks Business Green Award – Green Company of the Year
Awarded to the company that has demonstrated its commitment to the environment in changing and improving its business practice to better its carbon footprint, improve its own direct impact on the surrounding environment and has promoted this effectively to a wider audience, whether trade or consumer facing.

The judges will be looking for a clear demonstration of the ways in which your company has sought to better its green credentials over the last three years, with particular focus on activities undertaken in the last 12 months.

Improvements in any area of the company will be considered, as long as this is part of general move within your company to move towards a more “green aware” culture in the way in which you and your employees go about your day-to-day business.

The Drinks Business – Personality Award
This award will be given to the person who has excelled in recent years, and particularly in the last 12 months, in furthering environmental causes within the industry or their company. The winning candidate will have demonstrated their belief and commitment to all matters related to the environment and improving their, the industry’s or their company’s impact upon it.

S/he will ideally also have worked to bring their concerns regarding environmental matters to a broader audience within their field and/or area of interest. In short the winning candidate will be able to prove that by their actions and initiatives they are setting the standard in promoting better practice with regard to the environment at every level.

The Drinks Business Green Retailer of the Year
Awarded to the retailer who can best demonstrate how business practices have had a direct impact on improving their and their suppliers’ environmental credentials within the area of drinks retailing.

The winner will be able to clearly show how it has worked with both suppliers and consumers to introduce new, more environmentally friendly products or initiatives to improve not only their carbon footprint but also to inform and educate the consumer about adopting and adapting to greener purchasing habits.

Initiatives might include, for example, alternative packaging projects, the introduction of a wider range of organic or sustainably farmed products or changes in supply chain and recycling operations to reduce emissions. Whatever they are, the Green Retailer of the Year will be able to demonstrate their commitment to improving their green credentials and those of whom they buy from and sell to.

Logistics and Supply Chain Green Initiative
With increasing focus being put on carbon footprints and emissions, drinks companies’ logistics and supply chain operations are under pressure to manage their environmental impact. Whether a transport initiative or a commitment to improve green credentials, this award will be given to a drinks company’s supply chain or logistics programme that has significantly reduced or improved its impact upon the environment in the last 12 months.

The Drinks Business Best Green Launch
This will be awarded to the brand team for the launch, of a product that has promoted an environmentally friendly cause and has environment and sustainable issues at its core within the last 12 months.

Whether produced organically or made from sustainably produced materials, carbon neutral or associated with a specific environmental project, this product will clearly demonstrate its green credentials and the benefits it has brought about in reducing its environmental impact during production.

The Best Green Launch Award can be for a wine, beer, spirit, or even, a soft drink and will already have caught the attention of retail buyers with its potential to catch the imagination of the consumer.

The Drinks Business Ethical Award
Awarded to a company or product whose foundations are firmly based in, and dedicated to, the community and/or environment where they are based.

The Ethical award will consider all types of activities related to improving and benefiting the surrounding community; be it funding education, bringing clean water to communities or promoting improved environmental practices.

It will also recognise the efforts of the winning company, or brand, in carrying out best ethical practices in their day-to-day business by analysing the direct benefits of any project and its success in accomplishing its objectives.

The Drinks Business Sustainability Award
Every winery, distillery or brewery now has to take sustainable practices into consideration when it comes to production.

This award will recognise the efforts made by one company or brand to employ the most efficient and effective sustainable practices in their business whether in the production facilities or in their agricultural practices. Judges will take into account all aspects of production where waste management, recycling and sustainable practices have been improved in the last three years and more particularly in the last 12 months.

The winner might be a brand owner, a wine, beer or spirits producer or a major multinational and will be able to easily show their drive to improve the environmental impact of the way in which their products are made.

Lifetime Achievement Award
The person winning this award will have excelled throughout their career in furthering environmental, sustainable or ethical practices in the drinks industry to the benefit and education of others.

This individual will have dedicated a significant part of their working life to environmental and/or ethical causes. Whether in areas of production, marketing or management this individual will have a dedication to all matters green or ethical and will have sought to introduce a culture of best practice in these areas where ever they have been able to have some influence..

Administration
fee for each
entry:
£85 plus VAT

For further
sponsorship
opportunities
contact
Emily Ashbolt
+44(0)20 7803 2454 +44(0)20 7803 2454
emily.ashbolt@
thedrinkbusiness.com
For further
information about
the awards
or to discuss
your entry
contact
Nathan Smith
+44(0)20 7803 2428 +44(0)20 7803 2428
nathan.smith@
thedrinkbusiness.com
or
greenawards@
thedrinksbusiness.com

TERMS & CONDITIONS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We cannot guarantee the return of any materials supplied for judging.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The judges’ decision is final.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The closing date for entries is Friday 20 November 2009.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once a body of work has been submitted into an award category it will not be considered for subsequent years (with the exception of new work started on existing projects / products). It may, however, be considered for a different category.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All material submitted is treated in the strictest confidence.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Photocopied entry forms will be accepted.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copies of original documents will be accepted but the originals may be requested at the final judging stage and returned if requested from the outset.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Judges are not permitted to judge entries from their own or associated businesses.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Closing Date 20 November 2009
For more information and details, please contact:

Nathan Smith on +44(0) 207 803 2428 +44(0) 207 803 2428 email: greenawards@thedrinksbusiness.com

Carbon neutral-certified wine competition a top effort

in October 2009


It took three days of judging and involved sampling 1480 different wines, but now the Liquorland Top 100 judges have successfully picked the 100 best drops at New Zealand’s first carboNZeroCert certified wine competition.

Now in its 16th year, the Liquorland Top 100 judging event has this year become the first of its kind to achieve carbon neutrality in New Zealand.

This has been accomplished through measuring, reducing and offsetting the greenhouse gases associated with the event.

The Liquorland Top 100 judging event took place lst month at the Marlborough Convention Centre. During the event a panel of 21 judges were faced with the tough job of tasting and selecting the winning wines.

Liquorland Top 100 director and wine consultant Belinda Jackson says the judging event was a huge success, and that it was great to be part of New Zealand’s first carboNZero certified wine competition.

“It was fantastic to be part of such a large event that not only celebrated wine but also went the extra mile to have a positive impact on the environment.

“I have been truly impressed by the great selection of quality wine entered into the competition this year.

“The high standard of the wine entries in the competition made judging a tough job but I know consumers will be pleased with the final 100 wines that made the cut.”

The Liquorland Top 100 is New Zealand’s largest commercial wine event. The 2009 Top 100 winners will be announced on October 2 at an awards evening in Auckland.

Wairau River Wines

in September 2009

Wairau River Wines takes its name from the beautiful braided river on whose banks Phil and Chris Rose planted their first vines in 1978. (Wairau is Maori for ‘many waters’).

The Rose family were pioneers in the now prestigious Rapaura district, their foresight recognising the potential for the region’s free draining stony soil and abundantly pure artesian water. After supplying grapes for other producers for several years, Phil and Chris decided in 1991 to release a wine under their own label and so the Wairau River label was born.

With five estate vineyards totaling 500 acres (200 hectares), Wairau River Wines can maintain total commitment to quality by carefully managing these sites to keep yields low. Family owned and run, Wairau River is one of the largest independent wine estates in Marlborough, and the range of elegant wines is characteristically expressive of its Marlborough roots.

In June 2008 Wairau River Wines Limited was issued with carboNZero certification by Landcare Research, making it one of only three New Zealand wineries to be accredited and indeed one of a handful of carbon neutral wineries in the world.

Respect for the environment is imperative in decisions we make concerning our winery and vineyards. Small things such as constructing the winery in a neutral colour so that it blends in with its surroundings to larger things like putting in the first Lyve winery wastewater treatment system in Marlborough are all important to our family company to lessen our impact on the surroundings and ensure that we are
here for the future generations to continue to create world class wines.

Air New Zealand Wine Awards

in September 2009

The Air New Zealand Wine Awards is now a carbon neutral event following accreditation from the carboNZero™ programme. This means we have measured and reduced the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the event, and offset the remaining unavoidable emissions by purchasing verified carbon credits from credible New Zealand projects.

Changes include the online management of all entries to reduce paper, recycling of all the wine bottles and cardboard boxes, and encouraging wineries to use cardboard rather than polystyrene packaging.

For more information on this premier wine event please follow this link
http://www.airnzwineawards.co.nz/default,1174,home.sm

Liquorland Top 100 Wine Awards

in September 2009

Carbon neutral-certified wine competition a top effort

It took three days of judging and involved sampling 1480 different wines, but now the Liquorland Top 100 judges have successfully picked the 100 best drops at New Zealand’s first carboNZeroCert certified wine competition.

Now in its 16th year, the Liquorland Top 100 judging event has this year become the first of its kind to achieve carbon neutrality in New Zealand.

This has been accomplished through measuring, reducing and offsetting the greenhouse gases associated with the event.

The Liquorland Top 100 judging event took place lst month at the Marlborough Convention Centre. During the event a panel of 21 judges were faced with the tough job of tasting and selecting the winning wines.

Liquorland Top 100 director and wine consultant Belinda Jackson says the judging event was a huge success, and that it was great to be part of New Zealand’s first carboNZero certified wine competition.

“It was fantastic to be part of such a large event that not only celebrated wine but also went the extra mile to have a positive impact on the environment.

“I have been truly impressed by the great selection of quality wine entered into the competition this year.

“The high standard of the wine entries in the competition made judging a tough job but I know consumers will be pleased with the final 100 wines that made the cut.”

The Liquorland Top 100 is New Zealand’s largest commercial wine event. The 2009 Top 100 winners will be announced on October 2 at an awards evening in Auckland.
carboNZero™ CERTIFIED EVENT

Cape Campbell Wines

in September 2009

Here in New Zealand we are blessed with some of the world’s greatest wine. Our wine industry is critically aware of the effects of climate change on their environment. None more so than family owned and operated Cape Campbell Wines.

Murray and Daphne Brown have been growing grapes in Marlborough since 1980; considered one of the pioneers they were the first contract growers and then created their own label in 1992. Never to sit still the family sold their previous label and in 2002 bought 300 acres in the arid landscape of the Blind River area south of Seddon and the Awatere Valley. They were the first to plant vines in the area and established Cape Campbell wines.
The company specialises in producing premium wines which have won many awards and accolades and are sold in 10 international markets, plus locally in New Zealand. Varieties include, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Riesling and Pinot Noir.
Cape Campbell's team is dedicated to protecting the natural environment, by producing quality wine with minimal effect on the environment.

Beside our wine, our most impressive feature in our vineyard is a 9 acre lake which attracts all manner of fauna and flora. An extensive planting programme with Murray and Daphne's tender loving care has made this lake into a fully functional part of the vineyard, supplying all the water required to service 80 hectares of vineyard.

carboNZero
We have taken a major step forward in our commitment to protecting the natural environment, by producing quality wines with minimal effect on the environment. We have achieved the internationally recognised carboNZero certification for contributing no net greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere and are one of the first New Zealand wineries and a handful of global wine brands to have achieved carbon neutral certification for the organisation of our wine products. Other New Zealand wineries include Dry River, Huia Vineyards, Kaimira Ventures, Wairau River and The New Zealand Wine Company.

Working in partnership with Landcare Research, we used international standards to measure our greenhouse gas emissions; then committed to continually seeking reductions in these and offset the remaining unavoidable emissions by purchasing verified carbon credits from wind farm projects.

We're extremely proud to have achieved such a significant environmental milestone. Over recent years we have strived to improve our environmental performance by implementing water and energy conservation measures. This has included the development of a nine-acre lake, which is a fully functional part of the vineyard, supplying water to service 80 hectares of vineyard. The lake is also home to a wide range of local flora and fauna. Achieving carboNZero certification places us at the leading edge of global sustainability and gives consumers an opportunity to choose a bottle of Cape Campbell with confidence that we have minimised our impacts on climate change, as well as providing a fabulous drop.

The carboNZero certification involves three important steps including measuring and managing greenhouse gas emissions and finally offsetting (mitigating) the remaining unavoidable emissions. The entire process is then independently verified to ensure its credibility and integrity.

We will carry the carboNZero certification logo on all our wines sold throughout New Zealand, UK, Europe, North America, Australia and Asia

Update on Yealands Wines

in September 2009

Set to Launch in U.S.
SPRINGFIELD, Va.--(Business Wire)--
Marlborough, New Zealand winery, Yealands Estate Wines Ltd continues to raise
the bar in sustainable wine production by announcing its receipt of carboNZero
certification from Landcare Research, New Zealand Limited.

Yealands Estate is the largest winery in New Zealand to achieve this status for
its organization and wine products. From winemaking to employee air travel to
foreign port shipping, Yealands Estate Wines now has an effective net zero
carbon footprint. With certification in hand, Yealands undeniably proves "green"
can be done on a scalable level and is a model for companies worldwide.

Owner and founder Peter Yealands is thrilled with the achievement, which is part
of his ongoing mission to create the country's first fully sustainable winery.

"There are only a dozen wineries in the world with carbon neutral certification
and seven of those are in New Zealand. We're the first in New Zealand to have
been measuring emissions since day one," says Peter Yealands, an outspoken
advocate for sustainable practices.

"This is the first time a wine company has been carboNZero certified since its
formation. This means Yealands Estate has measured and offset all of its
greenhouse gas emissions since day one," says Roger Kerrison of Aura
Sustainability, the facilitator for Landcare Research. "carboNZero certification
is a complex measurement, yet the Yealands Estate team was up for the challenge
and the scrutiny."

Both the vineyard and the state-of-the-art winery employ techniques to maximize
operating efficiencies and keep a light carbon footprint. Techniques include
solar and wind power, extensive heat recovery systems, production waste
recycling and storm water collection used to irrigate the expansive Seaview
Vineyard. Further, Yealands has developed more than 20 wetland areas to preserve
native plant species and to attract native birds.

In addition to being a world leader in sustainable wine production, Yealands
Estate creates award-winning wines, amassing more than 30 international medals
with its 2008 vintage and proving that even going "green" you can still produce
great wines.

With Yealands Estate set for a national launch in May, this is great news for
U.S. consumers, retailers and restaurateurs looking for more sustainable wine
choices. The winery will incorporate the carboNZero certification logo on the
wine labels providing consumers with an easily recognized symbol of
sustainability.

Other accolades for Yealands Estate include accreditation for its winery and
vineyard under Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand and a Wine Standards
Management Plan that has been verified under the New Zealand Food Safety
Association Code of Practice.

Billington Wines is a family-owned importer, marketer and producer of fine wines
from around the world. Founded in 1985, Billington prides itself in pristine
customer service, superior quality products and wines offering an unbeatable
value in quality and price.

www.carbonzero.co.nz - www.landcareresearch.co.nz - www.yealands.co.nz -
www.billingtonwines.com

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