Cherubino’s sustainability journey started over twenty years ago. Our approach, ethical and efficient, while promoting the very best of land custodianship. On acquiring vineyards we’ve worked to rejuvenate them, realising their immense potential, which in many cases has been previously stifled by a past tendency within our industry to prioritise production over quality. 

We don’t see a benefit in being confined to a single dogma, so rather than solely chasing organic or biodynamic certification, or sticking to conventional farming principles, we harness best practice from each system. It’s an approach that has allowed us to remain progressive, responsible, sustainable, and profitable.

We have seen great success. On the threshold of achieving carbon neutrality, we are now sequestering 20 tonnes of carbon per hectare, a feat that wouldn’t be possible without significant investment.

Our methods include mulching, mid-row cropping, and the exclusive use of organic & biodynamic certified fertilisers, with the aim of creating growing systems that will require less inputs in the future. We also incorporate non-invasive electronic bird deterrents, biological controls for numerous fungal diseases, and the use of natural predators to combat insect pests. We use organic forms of protein for nitrogen applications and aim to be entirely plant-based in the next 20 years.

Improving the efficiency of capturing, storing, and using water is a priority for many in viticulture and horticulture more widely. We have been active in this space with remarkable results, cultivating cover crops and using mulching techniques to enrich our soil's organic matter content. For every 1% increase in organic matter, we've gained an additional 100,000 litres of available water per hectare. That in turn has increased our soils carbon storage capacity, enabling us to transition swiftly to carbon neutrality. 

To view the full GHG emissions assessment report prepared by Carbon Friendly click here.