Hosted by Wine magazine, the floral arrangements made way for saplings of indigenous trees in terracotta pots that guests could take home, bottled water was banished in favour of the old-fashioned tap variety and menus, award certificates and nametags were printed on recycled paper. Invitations and media releases were sent electronically - something the magazine has been doing for some time.
These efforts weren't simply paying lip service to the awards. For several years, the magazine's sustainability policy has seen large volumes of wine cardboard boxes and bottles from wine tastings being given to schools and shelters for recycling. Corks are sent to Spier wine estate, where they are used as part of a job creation project. Even the acrylic corks are recycled - taken up by fisher folk for use on their lines.
The Nedbank Green Wine Awards are a natural development for both the magazine and the bank, which is closely identified with conservation projects, supporting the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative through its Green Trust since 2004.
The 2009 awards saw the Lazanou Organic Vineyards Chenin Blanc 2008 declared best white wine and overall winner, while the Laibach The Ladybird Red 2007 emerged as the best red wine. The award for Best Environmental Practice went to Oak Valley in Elgin, which received an IPW audit worth R11 000 sponsored by Enviroscientific for both farm and cellar.
The results of the inaugural Nedbank Green Wine Awards, including interviews with the winning wineries, are available in the December issue of Wine, and the tasting results are available at www.winemag.co.za.
