Stephanie Thompson, Murray Pioneer

While the Riverland wine industry is battling through some of its darkest days, a local vineyard has offered a glimmer of light with a prestigious award win.

Starrs Reach Vineyard, based at New Residence, won Innovative Vineyard of the Year at the Young Gun of Wine Annual Vineyard of the Year Awards last week, returning the trophy back to the Riverland after Ricca Terra won it in 2020.

Starrs Reach Vineyard general manager and viticulturist Sheridan Alm said the award win provides encouragement for the Riverland wine industry.

“We entered the awards just hoping we would be a finalist and be in the mix of being able to network with the other finalists,” she said.

“Winning was definitely a real surprise. “

The inaugural winner of the award was Ashley Ratcliff at Ricca Terra Farms.

“It’s really cool that the award is back in the Riverland and let’s keep it here.”

Innovative Vineyard of the Year – The Groundbreaker singles out innovative methods, processes and ideas being applied in the vineyard.

The award takes into account wine quality and vineyard health, but also economic, social and environmental responsibilities.

Finalists and winners of the award are recognised for their approaches to carbon capture, water efficiency, biological farming practices, cover cropping, varietal selections, pruning techniques, and alternative disease and pest management.

“I think the thing that impressed the judges was that we were doing what little vineyards do, but on a really big scale,” Mrs Alm said.

“We weren’t using the fact that we are from the Riverland and are not a small vineyard as an excuse not to embark on a sustainability journey.

“Vineyards in the Riverland aren’t perfectly manicured and hand pruned with tree-lined entries to cellar doors.

“They are commercial operations, but that doesn’t mean there’s not good things happening under the ground in the soil that you can’t see.

Mrs Alm, who works alongside her husband, Craig, said the award was a testament to the hard work and dedication of their team.

“We have always believed in the potential of the Riverland wine region to produce premium quality grapes and wines, and this recognition validates our efforts and vision,” she said.

“Our wines are punching well above their weight, often out scoring wines at twice the value per bottle.

Mrs Alm said it was time the Riverland started showcasing its strengths that were once perceived as the local industry’s weaknesses.

“The Riverland gets a bad rap because it’s irrigated, and because it’s warm and dry, but they are actually all points that we should be promoting about the region,” she said.

“Because of low rainfall, we are able to micromanage the water input and apply water only when it’s needed.

“Something that is not talked about is that some of the highest quality wines in the world, especially varieties like grenache and fiano, come from the regions that have light, sandy soils.”

Mrs Alm said people tend to think of light, sandy soils as being poor quality soils. But they are actually, with certain varie- ties, an absolute plus,” she said.

“A warm and dry climate leads itself to limited pest and disease problems. It works on our side.

“Our region is potentially the most sustainable in Australia because of its size, but also because of our warm, dry climate and those lighter soils.”

Starrs Reach Vineyard accounts for about 220ha of winegrapes, selling to both major and small producers, as well as its own label.

The label started three years ago, with Starrs Reach Vineyard now exporting to Sweden and USA.

Mrs Alm said last week’s Innovative Vineyard of the Year award win was “particularly important” for export markets.

“The Nordic countries and the EU countries are really interested in the sustainability credentials, in fact, they are a must,” she said.

Meanwhile, Starrs Reach Vineyard have begun exporting a wine in can product to Sweden, which will be available domestically in the near future.

“We definitely need to consider alternative packaging and Australia is a little bit behind the other countries on that,” Mrs Alm said.

“I think most people are a little bit interested in alternative packaging and now it’s been proven that it doesn’t affect the wine quality.”

This article appeared in the Murray Pioneer, 19 June 2024.