Marlborough wine waste to be converted into vineyard soil amendment

The Marlborough Circular Wine Programme has been launched to transform winery lees—the organic sediment left over from winemaking—into a valuable soil amendment for vineyards. Led by the Bragato Research Institute, the initiative aims to reduce waste and emissions by combining lees with compost and biochar to create a nutrient-rich resource.

The four-year programme represents a total investment of $6.98 million, which includes $2.79 million from the New Zealand Government via the Primary Sector Growth Fund and $4.19 million in co-investment. Participating wineries will pay a disposal fee competitive with landfill costs, and the resulting soil amendment will be returned to participating vineyards at no extra charge.

Objectives of the programme include diverting more than 3,500 tonnes of solid lees from landfills and wastewater systems annually, which is estimated to mitigate approximately 4,700 tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay noted that if successful, the model could serve as a blueprint for other wine regions across the country.