Aussie Wine Named World's Best New 'Green' Drink

SYDNEY, Feb. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Europe's leading drinks publication, The Drinks Business, last night named an Australian family owned and operated winery winner of the Best Green Launch at the 2010 Green Awards in London.

Wakefield Wines won the award at The Drinks Business Green Awards which recognises and rewards drinks businesses for significant environmental, sustainable and climate change initiatives. The inaugural event comes at quite possibly the most crucial time for environmental awareness across commercial industries.

The Best Green Launch is awarded to a beer, wine, spirit or soft drink launch that has promoted an environmentally friendly cause, has sustainable issues at its core and clearly demonstrates a reduction in its environmental impact during production.

Mitchell Taylor, third generation Managing Director for Wakefield Wines is thrilled to win such a prestigious environmental award.

"This award is a major honour for our family business. Our environmental commitment is something we all hold very dear to our hearts and for many years, we have made a concerted effort to protect the future of the Australian and global wine industry and ultimately future generations of our family. Winning Best Green Launch is confirmation that we're doing the right thing," said Taylor.

Mitchell was unable to attend the event though accepted the award via video cross - saving precious emissions at the same time.

Wakefield Wines, known as Taylors Wines in Australia and New Zealand was the only Australian entrant in the international Best Green Launch category(1) and won for its September 2009 launch of Eighty Acres - the world's first 100% carbon neutral range of wines based on a complete cradle to the grave Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) compliant to ISO14044.

The LCA approach, maintained by The Australian Wine Research Institute, allowed Wakefield to define an accurate total carbon footprint and subsequently work to minimise emissions prior to off-setting the balance. To assist with the reduction of emissions, Wakefield has moved the Eighty Acres range into O-I's new Lean + Green™ lightweight bottles that are 40% lighter than normal bottles and reduce CO2e per bottle by more than 15%(2).

Wakefield then selected Carbon Neutral, an Australian not-for-profit organisation which provides carbon offsets including Verified Emission Reduction Units (VERs), to offset the sum of carbon emissions. Wakefield Wines and Carbon Neutral are committed to purchasing their VERs through domestic projects, independently certified by the Australian Federal Government, ensuring the avoided emissions maximise the benefit to the local environment.

For more information on The Drinks Business 2010 Green Awards, please visit www.thedrinksbusiness.com or for details about Wakefield's 100% carbon neutral Eighty Acres wines, go to www.eightyacres.com.au.

Wakefield Eighty Acres is available in select retail outlets for RRP US$15. Please direct all stockist enquiries to Justin Taylor: (404) 314 2988 / [email protected]

Mitchell Taylor is available for interview in Australia throughout February

    
    
    Media contact:  Gillian Martin from Liquid Ideas on
                    +61 2 9667 4211
                    E: [email protected]

Please note due to international trademark restrictions Taylors is marketed under the Wakefield brand in the northern hemisphere.

After four decades in the Clare Valley, Wakefield Wines remains proudly family-owned and run. The vision to build Australia's most successful family owned wine company was set by Bill Taylor who, in 1969, purchased land with his brother John and father Bill Taylor senior by the Wakefield River in Auburn. This vision has been nurtured and expanded by the next generation, Mitchell, Justin and Clinton Taylor, who all have key roles in the organisation. Wakefield challenges world standards through its progressive practices, most evident in the family's commitment to bottling all wines from the 2004 vintage under screw cap, the first major Australian wine company to do so. Wakefield's ability to meld tradition and innovation results in regular recognition, both in Australia and on the highly competitive world stage.

(1) Contestants of the Best Green Launch category included:

• Vina Ventisquero, Yali
• Wakefield Wines, Eighty Acres
• The Pure Green Vodka Company, Pure Green Vodka
• The Wine People, Purato
• Guy Anderson Wines, CanCan
• Vranken-Pommery Monopole, Pop Earth

(2) OI-30570 and OI-30571 versus OI-30163

SOURCE Wakefield Wines