Maxwell Sustainability   

As of January 2022, we are one of eighty-seven vineyards certified by Sustainable Winegrowing Australia that started in the McLaren Vale wine region and is now Australia wide.

The concept of this is to manage our crops in the least invasive way, avoid non-natural systemic sprays, to reduce carbon emissions, and to minimise our environmental footprint.

Sheep are brought to our vineyards over the winter months as a friendly weed management tool. This is a win-win for the farmer who gets extra weight on his flock and for the grape grower who saves money and time with weed spray and under-vine cultivating. The manure from the sheep goes back into the soil as fertilizer.  

We make our own compost from the grape skins after fermentation, which is beneficial for soil and vine health.

Our solar energy system has 262 solar panels on our rooftop which generates a peak output of 94 kilowatts, giving us power during the day when we most need it and with the balance going back into the grid means we no longer have large electricity bills.

We are working to regenerate native vegetation including an established planting 150 native callistemons along the eastern boundary of the estate to create a native wildlife corridor.

We are establishing a Biodiversity regime where we grow good plants and grasses which attract the “good” bugs which control the mites etc. Particular grasses in creek beds can be a home to insect eating bats which can feed on pests at night. We also encourage Ibis to wander the vine rows to eat snails.

We recognize the importance of nurturing the land so that it is not compromised for future generations. We will continue to introduce new sustainable initiatives across our operation as we work at being socially responsible, environmentally sound, and economically viable.