Sustainability
With 130 years of winemaking history behind us, Château Tanunda understands the role of sustainability as a core of longevity and quality in winemaking. As a family-owned estate, we are committed to sustainable practices in all aspects of our production and estate to ensure the future of the Château and the Barossa for generations to come.
We are proud to say that today the Château recycles 100% of its water and is powered by 100% of renewable energy including 60kw of onsite solar generation. We are constantly working on ecological ways to improve the soil health of our vineyards and maximize our water use efficiency.
In February 2024 we became a Sustainable Tourism accredited business with the Tourism Council of South Australia (TICSA). Further, in June 2024, the Château Tanunda winery became accredited with Sustainable Winegrowing Australia (SWA).
These awards are a reflection on the efforts the Château has placed on sustainability within both our viticulture and winemaking as well as the systems in place to ensure an environmentally and sustainable approach to tourism and visitation.
Château Tanunda is a certified member of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia.
Sustainability methods in our winery
Solar Power: Our winery is powered by renewable energy with the installation of a 60kw solar system in 2019 (110 panels covering up to 40% of the power needs of the estate), supplemented by verified renewable energy imports to make the site 100% renewably powered.
Conscious Water Consumption: We recycle 100% of our water and use water-efficient pressure-washers and nozzles.
Conscious Cleaning: We choose cleaning products that iare kinder to the environment, removing the need for water-intensive rinsing protocols.
Cellulose-Based Additives: We choose cellulose-based additives that inhibit tartrate crystallisation, instead of using traditional cold stabilisation which is energy-intensive. This greatly reduces refrigeration demand and electricity consumption.
Sustainability methods in our vineyards
Drip Irrigation: Our vineyards are drip irrigated which provides us with the most control over water management. Each vine has its own dripper, targeting the base of the vine to ensure minimal wastage. We have soil moisture probes in our vineyards measuring moisture content so we are only watering when the vines need it.
Conscious Spraying: Our growing period sees minimal interference with foliage control. We only apply minimal sprays and keep our pesticide use to an absolute minimum.
Soil Testing: We conduct regular soil tests to uncover exactly what our sites need and distribute those specifics accordingly, ensuring no wastage and unlocking full block potential. We are doing this not only in younger vineyards but in the rejuvenation of old vineyards that are 50, 100, and 150 years of age.
Cover Crops: During our dormant period, all our vines are hand pruned. The cane prunings are mulched back into every other mid-row, while the opposite mid-rows are cultivated with clover, barley, vetch and the like. This adds structure, prevents erosion, delivers nitrogen and attracts beneficial insects.
