Iron Gate Estate has become the first Hunter Valley vineyard to use atmospheric water in a huge boost to its sustainability profile.
Iron Gate Estate, a 25-acre Pokolbin vineyard, is the first winery in the state to introduce atmospheric water for its wine tasting sessions at the cellar door. Strengthening its sustainability profile and enhancing the experience for wine tasters.
General Manager of Iron Gate Estate Gavin Kuo realised the need for an alternative to bottled water when extreme weather events over the last few years created periods where the winery was unable to receive the bottled water it was having delivered.
While this initially caused frustration for Gavin and Head Winemaker Geoff Broadfield, creating losses and an obstacle to offering an outstanding tasting experience, longer term it was a catalyst for change. The duo realising the need for a superior product with a smaller carbon footprint.
After researching alternatives, Iron Gate trialled the Aquaria Water Systems 20 litre atmospheric water generator. The multi-layered filtration system purifies the water so it’s free from microplastics and other contaminants and its neutral acidity is excellent for wine tasting.
“Aquaria atmospheric water is perfect for wine tasting as the flavour and sensations of the wine are not affected by it,” said Gavin.
“This is integral not only to those tasting the wine but those producing it – our winemakers, for whom it’s important nothing alters their senses while wine tasting.”
Sustainability is fundamental to the team at Iron Gate Estate.
Atmospheric water has alleviated the need for the business to purchase and truck in bottled drinking water. Now the eco-friendly water system does the hard work and the result is clean and beautiful tasting water that’s created directly from the fresh air of the Hunter.
“This is a great story for our winetasters too – most of who haven’t tried atmospheric water – and it aligns with our ethos of producing everything we possibly can right here at the winery,” said Gavin.
“Tap water has never been an option for our wine tasting sessions as aging infrastructure can create inferior tasting water of which several chemicals are also added to.”
Using Aquaria atmospheric water, Iron Gate has been able to:
- Eliminate the need for transportation of the bottled water. Transportation is a leading contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, with carbon emissions from transportation projected to double by 2050.
- Reduce costs. Aquaria Water costs around 15 cents per litre, as opposed to bottled water which was averaging $3-5 including the costs to transport.
- Enhance the wine tasting experience by providing pure water for swilling with a neutral pH level.
- Offset plastic bottle recycling by over 10,000 500ml bottles per year, and
- Protect the business against unreliable water delivery and delivery disrupted by natural disasters and extreme weather events which are increasing in occurrence.
Iron Gate Estate, with its well-appointed winery, cellar door and strong focus on embracing sustainable and socially equitable practices, is passionate about making quality wines on-site from vine to pressing, to barrel to bottle, with precision-crafting equipment that’s been imported from Italy.
Growing the well-known Hunter Valley white varieties of Semillon, Chardonnay and Verdelho and reds including Shiraz, Cabernet, Tempranillo and Albarina, Iron Gate Estate is looking at ways to expand its use of atmospheric water throughout the winemaking process.
