Images: Supplied by Sustainable Winegrowing Australia, credit Wine Australia
There’s a lot more that goes into a great bottle of Australian wine than what ends up in the glass.
From the health of the soil and vines to water use, biodiversity and the long-term future of regional communities, winegrowers across the country are increasingly looking at how they can protect the land that makes their wine possible.
Now, Sustainable Winegrowing Australia has revealed just how far that movement has come, with the national program covering 70 per cent of Australia’s winegrape vineyard area.
The figures, based on the financial year ending June 30th, show the industry’s growing commitment to environmental, social and economic sustainability, with 1,995 members now enrolled in the program and 80 per cent achieving full certification.
The program now reaches 58 of Australia’s 65 wine regions, while 96 per cent of the 2025 winegrape crush came from member wineries.
That means the equivalent of more than 357 million bottles of wine now qualify to carry the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia trust mark.
For wine drinkers, that little mark on a bottle represents a set of independently verified sustainability practices and gives consumers greater insight into how their wine has been produced.
“Sustainable Winegrowing Australia’s growth reflects the resilience of Australian growers and winemakers, adapting to changing market and climate conditions, without losing sight of the land they depend on,” shared Sustainable Winegrowing Australia Chair Siobhan Toohill.
“We’re proud of what our members have achieved together, and their ongoing commitment to country, communities and the future of the Australian winegrowing industry.”
The program has been evolving since its first iteration began in the early 2000s, with its latest chapter being led by Chair Siobhan Toohill alongside a recently formed board and Executive Officer Siobhan Wigan.
The focus is on creating a practical framework that works for the people actually growing grapes and making wine, rather than sustainability simply being something that looks good on paper. That is something Hunter Valley winery Margan Wines & Restaurant knows well.
One of the region’s first estates to achieve full Sustainable Winegrowing Australia certification, Margan applies sustainable practices across its 70 hectares of estate-grown vineyards as well as its hyper-local agri-dining restaurant.
Ollie Margan, of Margan Wines & Restaurant, said, “Margan has long held strong environmental values and having them verified with the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia trust mark allows us to connect with an engaged audience more effectively. We are finding increasingly that our guests are as interested in who we are as a business as they are the quality of our product. The trust mark provides a strong verification of our practices, building trust with our consumers and helps us to create a strong community around our brand.”
The program is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, with members’ progress monitored annually. And with wine regions across Australia facing the ongoing challenges of changing climates, evolving consumer expectations and shifting market conditions, the organisation says sustainability will remain an important part of the industry’s future.
For wine lovers, that could mean the next time you pick up a bottle, there may be a little more to discover than the name of the vineyard and tasting notes. Behind the label is an increasingly nationwide effort to protect the landscapes, communities and vineyards that make Australian wine what it is.
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