Louis Latour Agencies
Producers
Wakefield
Vineyards and Winemaking
Vineyards and Winemaking
The Wakefield estate covers 750 hectares and has approximately 415 hectares under vine with a plan to raise this up to 600 hectares. The estate has a diverse selection of micro-climates, soil combinations and geographical characteristics which combine to create myriad of individual sites which bring their own unique characteristics to the wines. This enables careful site selection to take place ensuring that each grape variety is planted on the most suitable site. Around 60% of the vines are planted on Terra Rossa (red-brown loam over limestone) soils which tend to lie on the hillsides, the rest are planted on deep clay base with rich loam soils on land that rolls down the banks of the Wakefield River.
Environmental Stewardship
The Wakefield vineyards and winery are managed in line with the Taylor family’s strict environmental philosophy and belief in Environmental Stewardship. Wakefield wines have taken the following measures:
100% Carbon Neutral
Eighty Acres is the first 100% Carbon Neutral Wine Brand in the world. The Carbon Footprint for the whole product life cycle from the vineyard to disposal by the end consumer has been mapped and neutralised. This initiative has ISO 14044 accreditation for Life Cycle Analysis.
Lean+Light Bottles
Adoption of Lean+Light glass bottles for Promised Land, Estate and Eighty Acres ranges. These bottles are 40% lighter than standard glass bottles and deliver significant energy and water savings. They also contribute towards a reduction in carbon dioxide per bottle of more than 15%.
ISO 14001 Accreditation
Wakefield received ISO 14001 accreditation for Environmental Management Systems in March 2009. This covers the winery in the Clare Valley and the Sydney head office.
Water Recycling
Water is a scarce resource and the Taylor family do all they can to use it with restraint. All water used in the Wakefield winery and bottling hall is collected and recycled in their onsite state-of-the-art water recycling facility and then stored in one of their two dams. All run off from rainfall is captured in one these dams for re-use. Irrigation is carried out on a need only basis and managed by a computer controlled dripper on each vine.
Organic Compost
All solid organic materials including grape marc are utilised as compost on the vineyards. The compost is made on site without the addition of water.
Organic Mulching
Since 2001, Wakefield Wines have used organic matter to mulch the soil under the vines planted on their Clare Valley estate. This provides benefits such as superior root growth near the surface to better utilise water and nutrients and enhanced earthworm and soil microbe activity contributing to healthier soil and reduced weed growth.
Organic Cultivation Practices
In 2009 Wakefield Wines reintroduced sheep to their vineyards for the first time in 25 years. The sheep roam within the vines and control weeds and winter grasses. This has led to an immediate reduction in the requirements for pesticide use to control weeds and with the added benefit of a reduction in the diesel used by spray tractors. The sheep’s manure is also acts as a fertiliser and soil conditioner.
Minimisation of Pesticide use
Insecticide use is kept to an absolute minimum with no broad spectrum insecticides at all. Continuous vineyard monitoring ensures only targeted use in the worst affected areas. In addition only fungicides certified for use in organic production are used. This project is in the early stages and is a partnership between community, business and government. It has received funding approval from the government.
Wakefield River Regeneration
The Wakefield River flows in a southerly direction through Auburn in the Clare Valley before turning west to flow through Balaklava and into the Port Wakefield estuary. Wakefield Wines, through the formation of the River Wakefield Group, has championed a project to regenerate the Wakefield River with control of weed species and the planting of local indigenous vegetation to enhance biodiversity.