De Bortoli Wines Wins International Sustainability Award
March 2011 saw De Bortoli received international recognition as a leader in sustainability, winning the 'Sustainability Award' at 'The Drinks Business Green Awards 2011' in London. 'The Drinks Business Green Awards' are the initiative of Europe's leading drinks trade publication and is the first ever program for the global drinks trade to raise awareness of green issues and reward environmental and ethical leadership worldwide. It also aims to emphasise the vital role of sustainability in the development of the drinks industry. De Bortoli Wines triumphed over three other international finalists, with the judges remarking that De Bortoli stood out for putting sustainability at the forefront of their business activity whilst also confidently grasping specific regional issues. On De Bortoli's submission, the judges' commented: "Most notably they achieved a 40% reduction in landfill waste and their aeration system won praise for being a relatively inexpensive initiative within the reach of other producers and one which could make a real impact if adopted more widely." De Bortoli's Managing Director, Darren De Bortoli says the award pays tribute to the company's unwavering commitment to driving sustainability, identifying that in Australia changes to weather patterns attributed to climate change, record droughts, a growing population and serious river degradation and salinity issues all signal an urgent imperative to adopt environmentally sustainable practices. He says: "For a family-owned company looking to create a sustainable business for future generations, reducing our carbon footprint has become an integral part of the De Bortoli vision and philosophy. Our future lies in looking after the health of our soils and vines and managing precious resources." Steve Webber, Chief Winemaker echoes those sentiments adding that the business is committed to championing sustainable vineyard practises as they deliver both exceptional fruit quality and real environmental benefits. He says: "De Bortoli wines have made a serious commitment to the environment, going well beyond mandatory requirements by adopting a wide range of innovative programs and practises. These encompass water management, biological farming and packaging and waste management. Our ultimate goal is to be 'The Zero Waste Wine Company'." Upon winning the award, Webber acknowledged the work of his wider team. He said: "Winning this award helps us to highlight the movements De Bortoli is making towards becoming a sustainable company - at De Bortoli we are always striving for better".