By Melissa Coleman
For 15 years Twisted Gum Wines owner Tim Coelli’s approach to the family vineyard has been to manage and improve their yield through sustainability and various renewable energy concepts.
The former economist believes that growing grape vines through practices that are friendly to the environment not only add to the flavour, but also leaves a legacy for the next generation of family.
Mr Coelli said the focus in terms of how they grow grape vines was always to do their best to have the vine grow naturally.
They do that in several different ways, as Mr Coelli explained.
“We limit our use of chemicals; however, we are not organic, but we are trying to have as little impact on the environment as possible in this regard.
“We also apply a lot of mulch which help greatly to reduce our herbicide usage.
“The many birds which live in the surrounding eucalypt forest help to control caterpillars and various other insects, while native wasps help control scale insects,” he said.
Another way the vineyard benefits is through biodiversity.
Mr Coelli enhances the soil and vital nutrients by growing his own fertiliser.
“We plant legumes which bring nitrogen into the soil and help maintain a balance in the soil quality.”
Growing and making wine sustainability is an evolutionary process.
By incorporating solar energy and using water efficiently Mr Coelli is establishing a business that has economic and environmental benefits.
“We have reduced our irrigation in the making of our wine and this has improved the yield quality and taste,” he said.
“Low yields of usually less than four tonnes per hectare have many advantages.”
By not over irrigating we control the vigor in the grape vine, producing a nice open canopy which allows breezes and sunlight to help control disease and also fully ripen the fruit – producing small quantities of high-quality grapes with amazing flavours,” he said.
Twisted Gum Wines has sold out of its hand-crafted wine several years in a row.
But the sustainable impacts don’t stop in the vineyard.
Low carbon light weight bottles are used in the manufacturing and transportation of their product.
Mr Coelli said they have also transitioned to battery electric powered vehicles and tools to make use of solar power.
“We have an electric cart, a zero turn mower, chainsaw and brush cutter,” he said.
