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The magazine of the art-form of the photo-essay “A free, really high quality photo-essay magazine.  Fabulous!” Stephen Fry. British actor, writer and film & documentary maker
July 2015 back issue
Sustainable Winegrowers  New Zealand
by Robert Holmes
It’s winter and harsh Antarctic winds blow across New Zealand’s South Island.  All around me are vineyards, albeit devoid of foliage.  It’s a hostile environment at this time of year and difficult to understand how vines can grow here never mind being sustainable but, nevertheless, 95% of the vineyards in New Zealand meet sustainability standards.  There were times when it was hard enough to take photographs in the pre-dawn, sub-zero temperatures; the idea of growing fruit for world-class wine seemed unthinkable.  My challenge was to illustrate a concept.  Many of the wineries go to extreme lengths in their quest for sustainability by going the extra distance to become organic or even biodynamic and somehow I had to represent this commitment in still images.  I’ve spent the last 30 years photographing vineyards all over the world and finding something visually exciting that’s new and unique can be a challenge.  There are days that I think every photographer experiences when the muse never seems to descend and you never really get into the “zone”.  This didn’t happen in New Zealand where dramatic scenery provides a wonderful backdrop even during winter.  Sheep, goats and cows, which are an integral part of the sustainability movement, added an additional layer of interest and illustrate the holistic nature of sustainable farming. Most of my professional work has been in colour but I didn’t feel colour added much to the story so I was shot for black and white output.  Of course, I shot in colour with the intention of converting to black and white later.  The monochrome images always have so much more power, a gravitas missing in the colour versions.  Yet another layer to the experience was making a video for the Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand.  Our crew of four spent two weeks working 12-hour days and these photographs shown here were shot over 7 days between filming.
Viticulturalist Gareth King feeds his goats at Felton Road Wines in Central Otago.
The Wrekin Vineyard on the South Island supplies fruit to Astrolabe Wines.
The Wrekin Vineyard.
Snow covered mountains protect the Villa Maria vineyards from excessive rain.
New Zealand’s ubiquitous sheep keep vegetation under control at the Wrekin Vineyard in Marlborough.
Early morning fog hangs over Felton Road vineyards.
Sean Phillips tends the biodynamic vineyards of Seresin Estate.
Felton Road Wines.
Pyramid Valley Vineyards.
Guinea fowl roam the vineyards at Seresin Estate.
Feeding goats at Felton Road Wines.
Steam rises from a compost heap at Seresin Vineyards.
The hands of Clive Paton of Ata Rangi winery have planted thousands of native trees to recover New Zealand’s woodlands.
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Goats at Felton Road Wines in Central Otago.
Feeding goats at Felton Road Wines.
Villa Maria vineyards endure the cold winters of the Marlborough Sound on New Zealand’s South Island.
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