Belinda Jackson & Michael Wentworth | The Marlborough Wine Podcast

Climate action in Marlborough wine companies

In this episode, we talk to two wine companies leading the industry charge when it comes to climate action. Sophie Preece talks to Michael Wentworth from Yealands Estate, and Belinda Jackson from Lawson’s Dry Hills about the work they have done to cut and offset emissions, and the aspirations they have, including inspiring and informing other wine companies.

Marlborough Wine advocacy manager Nicci Armour joins Sophie in the introduction to this podcast, discussing the winter pruning season, work on circularity in the industry, and the carbon cutting work being done by companies like Yealands and Lawson’s Dry Hills.

Michael is the general manager of sustainability and strategic projects at Yealands Wine Group, which is one of two New Zealand members of International Wineries for Climate Action - a group dedicated to driving the global wine industry’s response to climate change. Yealands was Toitū carbonzero certified from inception in 2008 and is now committed to becoming carbon positive by 2050, accredited within the United Nations’ Race to Zero campaign.

Belinda is the marketing and sales manager at Lawson’s Dry Hills, which began its emissions reduction journey in 2010. By 2011 Lawson’s had gained ISO 14001 certification, which assessed the company from vine to port, and in 2020 they gained ISO 14064 and became a Toitū certified net carbonzero wine producer, requiring rigorous measurement of the company’s emissions, continuous improvement in cutting those they can, and carbon credit offsetting wherever they can’t. Belinda is speaking at the New Zealand Winegrowers Grape Days events around the country this month, so it’s great to hear some of her insights.

Both of these companies are providing leadership in the climate action space, and are fantastic examples of the collegiality of New Zealand’s wine industry - always keen to share their knowledge and help other companies follow in their (increasingly light) footsteps.

This podcast is made possible thanks to the support of Riversun Nursery