Sustainability in Every Bottle

Sustainability

Preserving the Land, Perfecting the Craft

Sustainability – a respect for the land, and an understanding that if you take, you must put back – has always been a central pillar of the Chalmers story. And that is something that will always be improved on, from biodiversity and farming through winemaking and packaging to water and energy use across the business. Supporting the community and ensuring that operations are economically viable for the long term are also essential components of the sustainability mission.

Bruce and Jenni had long eschewed chemical fertilisers in the vineyard, and their approach to land management decades ago was revolutionary in the Murray Darling. A focus on preserving trees and remnant scrub, while also revegetating non-vineyard land, were always high priorities, building a natural haven for indigenous flora and fauna, including critically endangered birdlife for a symbiotic and sustainable relationship between the vineyard and the bush.
There is considerable biodiversity of flora and fauna on both properties, with beneficial insect and bird species helping to manage pest populations, while the evidence of a rich presence of microflora is evidenced by the buoyant native yeast population. The Merbein property has been extensively analysed, and over 500 indigenous yeast strains have been documented. That’s not only a boon for winemaking, but it’s also a barometer of stewardship enhancing the local environment.

The viticultural processes focus on fostering soils rich in microbial life, which have shown a measurable increase in organic matter through applications of mulch, compost, humic acid and seaweed. These methods have also seen a significant increase in the soil’s water-holding capacity, lessening the burden on precious water resources and helping to maintain viable waterways. That reliance is further reduced with drought- and heat-tolerant varieties and rootstocks. Targeted irrigation further reduces water usage, which is about 60% of the regional average.

Over half of the onsite energy use is covered by solar power, with new approaches constantly sought to improve that figure. The energy impact of the business is also reduced in other ways, such as using lightweight bottles, which are less energy intensive to produce and transport. Where possible, wine labels are made from recycled materials, and light-grade or recycled cardboard is used for cartons.

The business employs a large local workforce in the vineyards, nursery and winery. They are all part of the broader Chalmers family, with much of the diverse, multicultural team having worked in the business for many years, and they have just as much rigour, enthusiasm and pride in the work as the Chalmers do. That the broader community thrives is also vital, so the business sponsors local schools and sporting, arts and charity organisations.
Lastly, it is essential that the Chalmers business is successful for generations to come, and that success goes hand in hand with the regions being strong. That economic sustainability hinges directly on the environment being nurtured, but it is also about celebrating what the regions do best. All the sustainable practices lead to exciting wine, and in turn that helps to enhance the prestige of place. Working alongside like-minded winegrowers who understand the importance of climate-apt varieties bolsters this further.