As of 1 January 2025, Kyneton Ridge Estate is the first certified member of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia in the Macedon Ranges wine region. Since Angela and Andrew Wood bought Kyneton Ridge Estate in 2019, they have been working towards a regenerative viticulture approach. In 2023, they committed to their sustainability journey by becoming a member of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia and preparing for certification of the Kyneton Ridge Estate vineyard.
This process culminated in an audit against the Australian Wine Industry Standards of Sustainable Practice – Viticulture (AWISSP-VIT1). The program is modelled on global best practices and aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. To pass, winegrowers must demonstrate and continuously improve on sustainability across the environmental, social, and economic aspects of their business.
Sustainable Winegrowing members need to meet strict standards on site documentation, supply chain, greenhouse gas emissions, biosecurity, land and soil conservation, and nutrient management. As well as biodiversity, pest and disease management, water, waste, energy and fuels, and air quality. The audit cycle lasts for three years, and in 2025, the Woods will work toward their winery audit.
“It was a complex, exhaustive process, but we’re thrilled to complete it for the first time. We’re the first vineyard certified by Sustainable Winegrowing in the Macedon Ranges – with a few of our neighbours in progress,” said Andrew Wood, Kyneton Ridge Estate vigneron.
The Macedon Ranges region is no stranger to environmental consciousness. Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group encourages the community to live sustainably with more than a dozen action groups incl. Kyneton Transition Hub, Regenerative Farmers, Renewable Energy, and Woodend Bee-Friendly Society. As well as new Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certifications in progress, it shows an exciting groundswell of support for sustainability in the region. (For more information, visit https://mrsg.org.au/)
Sustainable Winegrowing Australia
Kyneton Ridge Estate is a certified member of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia.
2024-2025 | Certification Standard: AWISSP-VIT | Member number: 02355
Sustainable Wine Growing Australia is collaborative partnership between Australian Grape and Wine Incorporated (AGW), Wine Australia, and the AWRI.
For more information on the certification process, visit https://sustainablewinegrowing.com.au/membership/the-certification-process/