Environment

We have taken a major step forward in our commitment to protecting the natural environment, by producing quality wines with minimal effect on the environment. We have achieved the internationally recognised carboNZero certification for contributing no net greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere and are one of the first New Zealand wineries and a handful of global wine brands to have achieved carbon neutral certification for the organisation of our wine products. Other New Zealand wineries include Dry River, Huia Vineyards, Kaimira Ventures, Wairau River and The New Zealand Wine Company.

Working in partnership with Landcare Research, we used international standards to measure our greenhouse gas emissions; then committed to continually seeking reductions in these and offset the remaining unavoidable emissions by purchasing verified carbon credits from wind farm projects.

We're extremely proud to have achieved such a significant environmental milestone. Over recent years we have strived to improve our environmental performance by implementing water and energy conservation measures. This has included the development of a nine-acre lake, which is a fully functional part of the vineyard, supplying water to service 80 hectares of vineyard.  The lake is also home to a wide range of local flora and fauna.  Achieving carboNZero certification places us at the leading edge of global sustainability and gives consumers an opportunity to choose a bottle of Cape Campbell with confidence that we have minimised our impacts on climate change, as well as providing a fabulous drop.

The carboNZero certification involves three important steps including measuring and managing greenhouse gas emissions and finally offsetting (mitigating) the remaining unavoidable emissions. The entire process is then independently verified to ensure its credibility and integrity.

We will carry the carboNZero certification logo on all our wines sold throughout New Zealand, UK, Europe, North America, Australia and Asia

SWNZ is the initiative started by volunteer grapegrowers who wanted to see environmental sustainability in their business. This has now become a commercial certification and has some strict guidelines in place. Each vineyard has a scorecard which is the core operational document, it acts as a reference document for growers through the season and provides a format for recording the practices used in the vineyard. The scorecard is made up of 5 categories; Soils and fertilisers, Ground cover and irrigation management, Diseases, Pests and Membership Criteria. It encourages continual improvement, and is a “living document” which is easily updated to include new practices.

SWNZ aim is for all New Zealand Wineries and Vineyards to be operating in accordance with an independently audited sustainability programme by vintage 2012.

RSE is a government work policy for the viticulture and horticulture industry in New Zealand. RSE allows employers to recuit from the Pacific Island nations provided that they adhere to strict guidelines regarding work conditions, accommodation conditions, pay rates etc. Cape Campbell was one of the first companies in New Zealand to use RSE labour.

Our irrigation lake was built in a natural water course which not only allowed us to landscape the area in a natural manner but it was done with the minimal disturbance to the surrounding land. Since developing the lake there have been numerous species of water bird (both native and exotic) establish colonies here.

We are continually planting different species of plants and trees throughout the property for animal habitat, erosion control and shelter.