The world of wine is changing, and quickly. Around the globe, winemakers are moving to be more sustainable in vineyards and wineries. Grapevines have never been healthier as greater care is now taken to care for soils and preserve the natural environment. 

For over 21 years Villa Maria, one of New Zealand’s leading and most awarded wineries, has been working to boost sustainability and reduce its impact on the natural environment. The use of lighter bottles, with a high proportion of recycled glass, as well as making their winery more water and energy efficient are just some of the ways Villa Maria are working to reduce their impact on the natural environment.

To top it off they have recently released their first organic wine range, EarthGarden. For a winery the size of Villa Maria this is a massive undertaking. The BioGro certification for organic vineyards takes plenty of dedication and a minimum of three years for a vineyard to be certified as organic. 

They are also working hard to increase the biodiversity of their vineyards, planting wildflowers bringing bees and other insects back into the vineyards. It is a lot of extra effort to not only make wine more sustainably but there are also significant gains in wine quality, with many of the great wineries around the world now increasingly pursuing organic winemaking and viticulture. 

Villa Maria EarthGarden Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020
92 Points – $23

There is no great surprise that EarthGarden has launched with a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, which is a big step up from their Private Bin range. It’s got a very attractive fruit profile –  guava, green mango and pear fruits with only some gentle cut grass in the background, Dry and crisp, the fruit is punchy and bright with the energy often seen in organic wines and is packed full of flavour. It’s an impressive inaugural release under this label.

Villa Maria EarthGarden Hawkes Bay Rose 2020
87 Points – $23

A very interesting choice for rose, made with merlot fruit and coming from the premium Hawkes Bay region, which has given this wine plenty of depth. Pale salmon pink in colour it’s definitely on the savoury side showing spice, green herb and subtle red fruits. The wine is then dry and fresh with crisp, bright fruits and a slightly meaty finish. It’s a wine to enjoy with significant dishes, such as baked salmon and dill.

This 100% independent content was published with support from the winery.