New Zealand marks 30 years of sustainable winegrowing

In 2025, New Zealand will celebrate three decades of the Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ) programme, launched in 1995 by five pioneering wineries. Now, 96% of the country’s vineyards are SWNZ-certified, underpinning a NZ $2 billion wine export industry in 2024.

The programme focuses on six sustainability pillars — climate change, water, waste, plant protection, soil, and people and SWNZ has been key in contributing to to New Zealand wine’s premium global reputation.

Independent audits began in 2004, to ensure rigorous standards, while in 2007, a certification logo was introduced that could only be used if 100% of the grapes and winemaking facilities were compliant with the SWNZ standards.

Fabian Yukich, chair of NZ Winegrowers, praised the industry’s foresight: “Sustainability has been essential to uniting winemakers and ensuring New Zealand wine’s success.” As the programme turns 30, New Zealand wine continues to stand out for its quality, innovation, and commitment to a sustainable future, setting an inspiring benchmark for the global wine industry.