It’s in our DNA. For three generations, we’ve gently worked in harmony with the land, ecosystem and seasons to produce wines of outstanding quality, making sure that our vineyards and processes get better vintage after vintage.
From the gentle care of our grapes and vines to the wine in the your glass – sustainability is something we’ve practiced for generations.
There’s a lot of talk about sustainability these days – which can only be a good thing. But ultimately it starts on the land, with programs and policies covering everything from biodiversity and packaging to water conservation and weed control. And there are four important areas of focus for Babich to ensure a sustainable future.
Water is essential for winegrowing – but using it sustainably is critical for the ongoing health of our lands. Through clever irrigation in the vineyard and smart technology in the winery, we’re reducing water use well below industry standards, and aim to stay at the leading edge of water conservation into the future. Underground irrigation, vine monitoring, vineyard dams, rainwater collection, and smart technology in our sustainable wineries all play an important part.
For over 14 years we’ve been expanding our organic wines and growing processes – and by 2026 we’ll increase our organic vineyard area by another 50%. Today, we offer seven organic and sustainably certified wines, own one of New Zealand’s largest organic, sustainable vineyards and are currently in the process of converting two conventional vineyards.
One of our secrets here is Barry. But he’s not a person – it’s a unique strain of yeast found only in our winery and formally known as Babich Retained Yeast. It’s the key to our wild fermentation process, where we make wines with extraordinary depth and intensity – through taking our time, the natural way. The wilder we are, the more sustainable we are.
100% of our grape marc (the used skins) is composted, so we send nothing to landfill. In fact, we’re always looking for ways to further reduce waste and thereby improve sustainability, from purchasing supplies in bulk so we can reduce packaging, to recycling and reusing materials in the winery.
