‘Sustainable warriors’: NZ award goes to Gisborne winery

THE WRIGHT STUFF: Manutuke’s Wrights Vineyard and Winery has been acknowledged for its sustainable practices in the Aoteaora Organic Wine Awards. Back (from left) are Noah Wright, Nicola and Otto Wright, Marise Rennie, Geoff Wright, Brian Fiddes, Yvonne Wruck, Patrick Ferry and Kayla Proudfoot. Front: Guy, Luke (with Rocket the dog) and Eli Wright. Picture by Paul Rickard

Successful sustainable practices at its vineyards has won a Gisborne winery a national award.

Wrights Vineyard and Winery at Manutuke has been crowned Sustainable Vineyard of the Year at the 2022 Aotearoa Organic Wine Awards — the country’s only wine show dedicated to organic and biodynamic wines.

Vineyard owners Geoff and Nicola Wright were proud to have received the accolade.

“We are just a small family business in Gisborne and for us to be recognised in this award is quite significant. We are over the moon about it all,” Mr Wright said.

The Wright family has been producing organic wine since 2000 — the culmination of a dream Mr Wright had after leaving the bright lights of Auckland and heading to Gisborne to study winemaking

The family now operates a winery and three vineyards across 45 acres.

“Over the last five years we have stepped up and broadened our focus to be aware of our surroundings,” he said.

“I think we have been working a lot harder and making sure we are being more sustainable as we realise the importance of the soil that we walk on.”

Mr Wright credits his staff, especially viticulturist Patrick Ferry, for enhancing his innovative ideas for vineyard management.

“He has been a key instigator of our vineyard ripping, cover crops, compost and new equipment design.”

Practices such as vineyard ripping or tillage enable plant roots to spread, aerate the soil and allow water penetration

Growing cover crops such as broad beans has helped release nitrogen naturally in the ground, which is critical for plant growth and optimises yield.

“It’s again another really good, healthy alternative to adding chemicals.”

The practice enhances soil health, conserves soil moisture and reduces or negates the need for spraying fertilisers.

Mr Wright said their business also used machinery that ensured optimal utilisation of resources.

“Unlike most people who mow the grass and keep it under the sun to dry out, we use a mower that throws the grass underneath the vines. Trailing behind the mower we have got a disc that turns the soil over and mounds it over the green mown grass underneath the vines. This process helps in adding more natural organic matter into the soil, which again helps it to release nutrients.”

Gisborne Winegrowers chair Mark Thomson said the award was recognition of the region as having a strong sustainable and organic focus.

“I think it’s a great tribute to the work Geoff has done at Wrights.”

The winery produces around 90,000 bottles a year, including gewurztraminer, chardonnay and pinot noir.

Mr Wright says their journey “has only just begun”.

“We are still actively improving our sustainable practices. Within our family it is important for us to pass on our knowledge to our children and hope that they, too, will be sustainable warriors.

“To be recognised now as sustainable vineyards feels pretty special.”