Green wine picks up gold

Third-generation family winery Taylors Wines has picked up the only Australian gold medal at the 18th annual Chardonnay du Monde international wine competition held at the Pasteur Institute, Saint-Lager, Burgundy, France, March 2011.

The 100% Carbon Neutral 2010 Taylors Eighty Acres Chardonnay was the only Australian wine to win gold in a field that included many famous and highly priced chardonnays from Australia and around the world.

The Chardonnay du Monde international competition recognises the world’s best chardonnays, awarding medals to only the finest expressions of the varietal from 914 samples, across 38 countries. Of the 305 medals awarded in total, only 53 of these were gold. The result is even ‘sweeter’ for Taylors as Burgundy is seen as the home of chardonnay.

Eighty Acres is 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.

Recent international recognition of the Eighty Acres range of wines has included its selection by Australia’s Ambassador for Climate Change for an official function in Copenhagen, as well as being named ‘Best Green Launch’ by The Drinks Business magazine at the 2010 Green Awards in London. In 2010, Taylors Wines were also awarded the 2010 Banksia Award for ‘Leading in Sustainability’ and the 2010 NAB Agribusiness Environmental and Energy Management Award.

Taylors Wines Eighty Acres is also the official wine of choice for 2011 Earth Hour (8.30 pm, 26 March) and prize sponsor of the inaugural Earth Hour Lifetime Achievement Award.