Certified Member of Sustainable Wine Growing Australia
At Grace Farm we have a deep commitment to understanding and enhancing the natural attributes of the property’s unique location, and to that end we have taken the opportunity to have this formally recognised through Sustainable Winegrowing Australia (SWA) certification.
In November 2022, the National Association of Sustainable Agriculture Australia (NASAA) conducted an audit of our operations, and in January 2023 we received formal notification we meet the AWISSP standard, meaning that we are now a Certified Member of SWA.
Sustainability Principles
The vineyard is managed according to the sustainable principles of conserving soil biology through inter-row cropping and the use of mineral-based fertilizers and compost. The vine canopies are sprayed with a traditional blend of sulphur, fish emulsion and kelp to keep mildew at bay, while also providing a tonic for the leaves. Plentiful winter rain and well-drained, clay-based soils nurture the vines.
The Mair family has a keen interest in the unique biodiversity values present on Grace Farm. Floristic and avian fauna surveys have been carried out and monitoring of populations is ongoing. Environmental weeds, jarrah (phytophthora) dieback and vertebrate pests are all managed with the aim of encouraging the native flora and fauna to flourish throughout the substantial bushland.
Hydrological Requirements
The hydrological requirements of the Cowaramup Brook riparian ecosystem have been taken into account by installing a ‘first-flow’ system that diverts refreshing early winter flows around the gully dam into the parched creekline below it.
The farmhouse was designed according to solar passive design principles and supports a roof-top solar array which feeds excess power back into the electricity grid, thus helping to reduce the property’s carbon footprint.