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South Australian wines go green

Media Release | 23 May 2008

South Australia's wine makers and grape growers are the first industry group in the nation to sign an agreement to accurately track and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

They signed the agreement with South Australian Premier Mike Rann at the prestigious London International Wine Fair this week.

Mr Rann signed the Sector Agreement on climate change with Orlando's Chief Winemaker, Philip Laffer, on behalf of the SA Wine Industry Association and Jim Caddy, Chairman of CCW Co-op Ltd, on behalf of the Wine Grape Council SA.

He says this is an important Agreement for two main reasons:

It demonstrates a clear commitment that SA's wine industry is serious about adapting to climate change and responding to the targets set by the State Government's new climate change legislation - to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% of 1990 levels by 2050.

It recognises that consumers and distributors across the globe are beginning to favour wine makers that are actively reducing their carbon footprint.

"The UK is Australia's largest wine export destination. Of the nearly (A)$1 billion worth of Australian wines sold in the UK each year, South Australian wines make up a massive 72% of that market.

"South Australia exports nearly 400 million litres - or $1.6 billion of wine - annually.

"Put simply, the wine industry is recognising today that it cannot afford to ignore the planet or their markets.

"The giant supermarket chain Tescos, the UK's single largest distributor of Australian wines, is aggressively pursuing a "Greener Living" campaign and has recently started freighting its wine stocks from Liverpool to Manchester by barge to save on carbon emissions.

"Sir Terry Leahy, the CE of Tesco, was recently reported saying that he wanted to devise a system of labelling that would enable shoppers to 'compare a product's carbon footprint just as easily as they can currently compare its price or nutritional value'.

"I am told that Marks & Spencer has similar plans, as does the US shopping chain Wal Mart. The US is our second largest wine export destination.

"Adapting to climate change and growing consumer awareness is the way of the future and we ignore this new direction at our peril.

"The signing of this Sector Agreement today will ensure South Australia's wine industry will be able to gain the edge as it begins to reduce its carbon footprint in manufacturing its wines.