A Note On Sustainability

What is Sustainability?

Sustainability means different things to different people. The general definition is ?an avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance? Academics define it as a balancing of local and global efforts to meet basic human needs without destroying or degrading the natural environment; taking into consideration economic, environmental and social elements

In basic terms, it is meeting the needs of the present without depleting natural resources and compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs

As part of our commitment to sustainability all our packaging is 100% recyclable. The pulp inserts used to ship our wines can even be added to your compost heap!

High Environmental Value (HVE)

Haute Valeur Environmentale (HVE) is a French agricultural certification that recognises a high level of commitment to protecting and enriching the environment It is particularly focused on four key areas: biodiversity conservation, flora protection strategy, management of fertiliser use and management of water use

HVE certified vineyards are not necessarily organic, which can be extremely difficult to practice consistently in wet regions such as Bordeaux, but certification shows that they making are significant and diverse efforts to practice viticulture in the most sustainable way possible

Biodynamic

Biodynamic viticulture is an extreme version organic viticulture which is based on t agricultural theories of Austrian philosoph Rudolf Steiner in the 1920s, it sees three k additions to organic practices:

- The vineyard has to be a self-sustaining ?fa organism?

- Biodynamic ?preparations? containing he and minerals are used to treat the vineyard

- Key tasks such as pruning, ploughing, pick and bottling are timed to harness benefic ?formative forces?such as the phases of t moon

Demeter is the recognis certification for biodynam vineyards of the her key arm rbs ing cial the sed mic

Organic

It is increasingly common for the producers we work with to work organically, even when they are not certified Wine are produced according to organic standards using grapes grown by organic viticulture Detailed guidelines do vary from country to country but wines usually have 25-35% lower sulphur levels than ?conventional?wines Organic wines may or may not be suitable for vegans or vegetarians.

Organic wines made in the EU can use the EU organic logo (stars in the shape of a leaf).

England's wine scene has changed beyond recognition in the last forty years Prior to that it was the preserve of farmers and those in viticulture as a hobby Next to the rich centuries-long wine cultures of France, Italy and Spain, England is very much the newbie.

Pinoeers such as Peter Hall at Breaky Bot t om and Maurice Ash at Sharpham paved the way in the 1970s. Nyetimber arrived on the

Cornwall

Knightor Vineyard, St Austell

Devon

Calancombe Estate, Modbury

scene in the 1990s and English sparkling wine started to get attention Since when England has been recognised as one of the best sparkling wine producers in the world. The changing climate means grapes which would have struggled previously now ripen to perfection in Southern England With a geology similar to that of Champagne it's no surprise English winemakers have been making a splash.

Alongside this explosion in English Sparkling wine has been a quieter improvement in the quality of English still wines made from Bacchus, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. We're making Chardonnay as good as you'll find in Chablis. We're even making good Pinot Noir - maybe not as good as Burgundy, yet, but we're close There is much promise in the increasing hectares under vine and the dynamism and experimentation of England's young wine makers.

Huxbear Vineyard, Chudleigh

Meet the Winemaker

Half way up the Teign Valley, the vineyard was planted by Ben and wife Lucy in 2007. The vineyard is off-grid with solar power, wind power, rain water harvesting and compost toilets.

The growing conditions are closer to Champagne or the Loire than more arid areas that produce big reds The terroir brings out the delicacy that discerning wine buyers are looking for.

Lyme Bay Wines, Axminster

Meet the Winemaker

James' aim is to produce the best wines, from the best fruit, from the best growers, in the best locations. It's why the grapes don't always come from Devon.

The Single Vineyard range showcases grapes from Crouch Valley, Essex, arguably the best site for still grapes in England. The result is a collection of wines which astound and delight in equal measure

Sandridge Barton, Totnes

Dorset

Langham Wine Estate, Blandford Forum

Hampshire

Hattingley Valley, Alresford

Kent

Balfour Winery, Staplehurst

Gusbourne Estate, Ashford

Breaky Bottom, Lewes

Henners Vineyard, Herstmonceux

Meet the Winemaker

Collette O'Leary, Henners Vineyard

Collette studied Viticulture & Oenology at the UK?s prestigious Plumpton College and then worked in wineries in New Zealand, California and South Africa to hone her wine making skills

When she joined Henners, Collette could immediately see the potential in Sussex for growing extraordinary wine making grapes, particularly where the Henners hectares are nestled in the South Downs

Meet the Winemaker Peter Hall, Breaky Bottom

Peter Hall is an English wine making pioneer He planted his Breaky Bottom (that's the real name, not something made up by a marketing department) vineyard in 1974 long before it was fashionable

To begin with he planted Seyval Blanc, mostly for its ability to ripen in the cooler British climate and later added the classic Champagne grapes.