20.01.2011 - Vinexpo news selection
Organic wine producers in New Zealand have announced that 20% of the country's vineyards will be organic by 8 years.
The campaign is organized by the Organic Winegrowers New Zealand (OWNZ) which a 140-member national association led by growers is seeking to share and promote the organic way.
The amount of NZ vineyard land under organic certification has tripled in the past three years with almost 1500 hectares of vines on 115 vineyards now being managed organically - representing 4.5% of all vineyard land.
James Millton, chairman of Organic Winegrowers New Zealand (OWNZ), said: "By 2020, even if we only achieve 20% of the vinelands in our country as being certified organic and biodynamic, it will be a giant step towards enforcing our very precious environmental image to wine connoisseurs all over the world." (Harpers / 11 January 2011)