Sustainability

SUSTAINABILITY

Just like great wine, our approach to sustainability is multifaceted and starts in the vineyard, with careful selection of management approaches that foster soil and vine health. Our aim in the vineyard is to minimise inputs, including water, to reduce environmental strain and encourage natural cycling. We do this consciously by increasing the range of beneficial plant and animal species in and around the vineyard, thereby naturally improving soil structure and water infiltration as well as reducing pest problems.

Angove Family Winemakers are certified organic, and members of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia and the Australian Packaging Covenant.

Commitments to sustainability

To Listen
Through careful observation and feedback the Angove family have developed sound environmental practices and procedures, exceeding all relevant environmental legislations – not because they must, but because they want to.

To Support
The Angove family help develop environmental policies and initiatives, in conjunction with the Australian wine industry and through their founding membership with the Wine Industry Sector Agreement on Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas reduction.

To Protect
Protecting the environment and conserving its natural resources is at the core of all the Angoves’ activities. Conveniently, healthy soils and ecosystems produce the highest quality grapes and craft the best wine.

To Act
As one of the largest employers in the Riverland, Angove Family Winemakers play a significant role in the local community through job creation, supporting local business and working on community issues. 

Achievements

Angove Family Winemakers is focused on real actions and investment that will benefit the environment, improve sustainability and work efficiencies and measure overall business impact.

Power
Angove is constantly looking to reduce power use, and consequently decrease green house gas emissions. The following changes have helped reduce their carbon footprint:

  • 25% reduction in power through the installation of variable speed drivers on irrigation pumps 
  • 56% decrease in LPG use through gradual conversion of our forklift fleet to electric
  • Insulated tanks, LED lighting and automated tank cooling controls reduce total energy use
  • 29% decrease in LPG use through conversion to a highly efficient boiler, housed in a fully insulated shed
  • 30% of on-peak Renmark winery energy is provided by our onsite 200kW solar system.
  • A 30kW solar system at the McLaren Vale Cellar Door covers 75% of power use 
  • Installation of LED lighting, that uses 90% less energy than previous lighting, has been  throughout the winery, offices, warehouses, barrel stores and tank farms

Organic and Biodynamic Viticulture
Angove Family Winemakers began their journey in organic viticulture in 2009. Two hundred hectares of their Nanya Vineyard in the Riverland is certified organic as is their 10 hectare Warboys Vineyard, adjacent to the McLaren Vale Cellar Door. 

100% of organic winery waste is reused through extraction of SVR or composting onsite

4500+ seedlings and millions of seeds have been sown across our vineyard and winery sites

Water
All vineyards are watered using drip irrigation, with soil moisture probes used to inform irrigation decisions, resulting 25% reduction in water use in our vineyards with the implementation of variable speed drives, drip irrigation and soil moisture probe directed watering.

50% reduction in use of backflush water through regular filter cleaning and drip and main line flushing

Rainwater is captured and stored for future use as process water within the winery

100% of winery waste-water is treated onsite and used in the 25 hectare woodlot, planted to native species to regenerate a salt scolded flood plain.

Packaging
Angove Family Winemakers is a member of the National Packaging Covenant and has a strong commitment to recycling packaging materials including glass, cardboard, paper and plastics with systems in place to ensure efficient handling and collection of all items for recycling.

20% reduction in CO2e emission by using light weight bottles made from recycled glass

All carboard boxes are made from sustainably sourced wood pulp and are 100% recyclable.

66% reduction in divider use through investment in a new carton over packer. A new carton ‘over packer’ facilitates a range of carton sizes has allowed for to the removal of dividers from many of our SKU pack runs. Between 2024-2026 we saved 240,000 dividers from entering the waste stream. When stacked, closed, that many dividers would reach 240 meters higher, close to 2 times the height of the world’s tallest tree.

APCO Annual Report and Action Plan 2025

Waste
Angove produces various waste streams and aims to reduce, reuse and recycle wherever possible

  • 60% of waste at the Renmark site is recycled
  • 36% reduction in total waste streams
  • Under vine mulching utilises winery waste, with the added benefit of inhibiting weed growth and returning carbon to the soil.
  • Winery wastewater is treated and used to irrigate a 25 hectare woodlot planted to native tree species. The woodlot acts as a carbon sink, provides habitat for native animal species and regenerates a salt scald.
  • Centrifuge and crossflow filtration technology, used to clarify without the use of diatomaceous earth or perlite filter aids, has minimized the use of these products and prevented over 150 tonnes of waste going to landfill.

An eye to the future

The future at Angove is bright, with some incredible projects planned and in-progress

  • The 900 1400 Woodlot Trees Project is regenerating more of the flood plains with salt and flood tolerant tree species which will provide habitat for animals and restore a salt scolded ecosystem
  • Bird lasers are being trialed at the McLaren Vale Warboys Vineyard. These lasers mimic bird of prey flight action and deter fruit eating bird species. This reduces the impact of netting on native animal species, reduces plastic use, and reduces carbon emissions related to install and removal of netting. 
  • Thanks to the Landscape Hills and Fleurieu’s Grassroots Grants Program, funded by the SA Government landscape levy, 1Ha of vineyard will be dedicated to the restoration of McLaren Vale’s grassy ecosystem by sowing native grass species in the midrow. This will also promote soil health, water infiltration, and increase the abundance and diversity of beneficial insects.
  • Our Nanya Vineyard is a demonstration site for the EcoVineyards, EcoGrower program. As part of this program we are trialling various methods of weed suppression, including prostrate saltbush and native grass species, with methods of application varying from tube stock to hydroseeding. 
  • Thanks to a Grassroots Grant, funded by the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board, filter upgrades and maintenance saved 60 million liters of backflush water. A portion of this savings has been repurposed to water 1000+ newly planted mallee species, which will eventually grow into native habitat for local emus, echidnas, kangaroos, eagles and other native animal species.

These actions together with ongoing research and investment place us in a good position to manage our carbon footprint and be sustainable today and into the future.