Innovation drives NZ wine industry
Savouring a glass of velvety Central Otago pinot noir or a crisp Marlborough sauvignon blanc is essential to the complete New Zealand food and wine experience.
New Zealand’s relatively young wine industry is considered on par with some of the best in the world, mostly thanks to innovative Kiwi vineyard owners and winemakers who’re taking a traditional art to a new level.
The Kiwi ‘no 8 wire’ attitude comes to the fore when devising novel new ideas and concepts to help revolutionise grape-growing and winemaking processes. Most New Zealand wineries are also environmentally-conscious, with many aiming to be completely carbon neutral in the long run.
As wine drinkers grow more discerning in their tipple of choice, New Zealand’s wine maestros are upping their game, devising fresh new ideas to make better wine through the use of more efficient wine technology.
Wine Research Centre
The Marlborough Wine Research Centre - located in Blenheim, in the Marlborough wine region - is at the heart of Kiwi vine technology.
The research centre works with universities and research facilities to provide scientific leadership and technological development for the wine industry.
It is currently running New Zealand’s first large-scale wine research project into the sauvignon blanc grape, which aims to help the industry understand the unique qualities of Marlborough sauvignon blanc and ensure that it maintains its international reputation.
Fuel from waste
A Blenheim man’s ingenious invention promises to take wineries one step closer to going off the grid.
Kevin Parker, who owns Vine Gas Ltd, has invented an engine with a distillation column that produces ethanol made from grape-skin pulp using a unique, patented ‘heat capture’ technology. The ethanol could then be used to power refrigeration - one of the big energy users in wineries.
Surplus ethanol could also be turned into an alternative fuel source for motor vehicles. Petrol engines can run on 100% ethanol and diesel engines on up to 75% ethanol with some modifications. The ‘closed system’ engine is currently in the prototype stage.
Parker has previously built a vineyard tractor powered by pruned grape canes for the New Zealand Wine Company, and a boiler which burns prunings to heat fermentation tanks for Yealands Estate winery. He says that even surplus wine can be turned into fuel for modified cars.
NZ’s greenest winery
When Peter Yealands launched Yealands Estate in 2008, it was with a vision of creating one of the world’s most sustainable wineries.
The award-winning winery, which collected 33 awards in its first year of operation, has come up with some clever innovations to honour its environmental commitments.
One of the most successful is the use of ‘mini’ sheep to mow the vineyard. The baby-doll sheep, imported from Australia for NZ$3000 each, are too small to damage the vines yet can naturally harvest the grass and withstand predator attack.
Yealands calculates that as the flock increases in size, they could save the vineyard NZ$1.3 million a year in mowing and spraying costs - not to mention the returns provided in terms of meat and wool. A pair of New Zealand falcons also resides on the estate grounds, and is a useful form of natural pest control.
Other brilliant ideas include using special recyclable plastic bottles for their short-life white wines. The ‘Full Circle’ bottle is one-tenth the weight of a glass bottle, has a shelf life of 18 months and 54% less carbon emission.
Yealands Estate is New Zealand’s largest carbon zero winery, and one of only a handful in the world.
Wine robot lends helping hand
A vine-pruning robot being developed in Christchurch is being hailed as the next revolution that will transform the New Zealand wine industry.
Scientists at the University of Canterbury are building a prototype of the robot over the next four years
The robot will be programmed to do the most laborious task on a vineyard - pruning. The robot uses 3D camera technology to gauge distance from the vines as it ‘walks’ along. It is also able to see in the dark, and can thus work around-the-clock.
It is estimated that the robot could halve operating costs for New Zealand’s wine industry, a saving of nearly NZ$30 million a year.
Although the robot is being created specially for the horticulture industry, it has the potential to be adapted for similar tasks in other industries.
Remote control wine
A Kiwi company which makes temperature control equipment for wine vats, is taking off overseas.
Wine Technology Marlborough’s latest innovation the VinWizard - is a central remote control system that allows temperature in wine tanks to be controlled automatically - is a hit with time-strapped wineries. Temperature control is a key part of the fermentation process, as it determines the quality of the wine.
The system is currently used by more than 100 vineyards in six countries worldwide, and has established a strong foothold in the US - with contracts in place for three Californian winemakers. The technology is also popular with young wineries in Argentina, which is the fifth-biggest wine producer in the world.
The VinWizard frees up time for winemakers, as they are able to manage vats remotely and could also save up to 50% on power.
Wine Technology Marlborough was established in 1996 and also sells equipment to South Africa, Australia and Spain, in addition to New Zealand.
WTM owner David Gill says the ‘green’ nature of the technology will also make it appealing for environmentally-conscious wineries.
"Refrigeration is costly and energy-intensive. By reducing energy costs around 30% to 50%, we can help the winemaker reduce his carbon footprint. It certainly helps the winemaker towards his goal of carbon neutrality."
More information
New Zealand wine industry
Marlborough lists as top wine destination
NZ wine industry committed to sustainability
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