This World Environment Day, the theme is Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future.
As vineyard owners, it is a theme that resonates deeply with us because every bottle of wine begins long before the grapes arrive at the winery.
It begins with the soil.
I spent much of my career chasing budgets, forecasts, deadlines and KPIs before David and I purchased our first vineyard. What I quickly discovered was that grapevines don’t care much for spreadsheets.
Nature has a way of keeping you humble.
You can have the best plans in the world, but if the rain arrives at the wrong time, if conditions stay too dry for too long, or if a flock of birds decides your grapes are the best meal in the valley, you quickly realise who is really in charge.
The longer we’ve spent in the vineyard, the more we’ve come to appreciate that great wine isn’t simply about growing grapes. It’s about creating healthy, resilient ecosystems that can thrive for generations to come.
Looking Beyond the Vines
When most people visit a vineyard, they look at the vines.
These days, I spend just as much time looking at everything else.
The soil beneath our feet.
The cover crops growing between the rows.
The insects, worms and microorganisms that most people never notice.
Because the truth is, healthy vineyards start from the ground up.
That’s why regenerative viticulture has become such an important part of how we farm at Latitude 32.
Rather than focusing solely on production, regenerative viticulture encourages us to think about the long-term health of the land. It is about improving soil health, increasing biodiversity, building resilience and leaving the vineyard in better condition than we found it.
What Regenerative Viticulture Looks Like at Latitude 32
Across our vineyards, you’ll find cover crops growing between every second row.
I’ll admit they don’t always look particularly neat. In fact, there are days when they look downright messy.
But beneath the surface they are doing important work.
Cover crops help improve soil structure, reduce erosion, increase organic matter and encourage biodiversity throughout the vineyard. They also help support healthier soils capable of retaining moisture and supporting stronger vines.
We’ve also focused on encouraging beneficial insects and native pollinators throughout our vineyards. Ladybugs, native bees and other beneficial species play an important role in maintaining balance within the ecosystem.
We’ve reduced unnecessary soil disturbance wherever possible and return organic material back to the vineyard to help build healthier soils over time.
Many of these changes are small on their own.
Together, they help create a healthier and more resilient vineyard.
Sustainability Is a Journey
One of the biggest lessons farming has taught us is that sustainability isn’t something you ever finish.
There is no final destination.
Every vintage teaches us something new.
Every season presents a different challenge.
Every year we look for ways to improve.
For us, sustainability is not about marketing claims or ticking boxes. It is about making practical decisions that ensure these vineyards continue producing exceptional fruit for decades to come.
It is also why we are working towards Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification.
The certification process provides an important framework to measure our performance, challenge our thinking and hold ourselves accountable. More importantly, it reinforces our commitment to continual improvement across both the vineyard and winery.
Caring for the Next Generation
The Hunter Valley has been producing wine for almost two centuries.
We are simply the current custodians of a small piece of that story.
Our responsibility is not just to make great wine today, but to ensure these vineyards remain healthy, productive and sustainable for future generations.
Because great wine starts with healthy land.
And healthy land starts with looking after the environment that makes it all possible.
This World Environment Day, we’re proud to celebrate the role nature plays in every bottle we produce and remain committed to farming in a way that respects the land, supports biodiversity and contributes to a more sustainable future.
After all, the better we look after the vineyard, the better the vineyard looks after us.