Waste
Chard Farm employs a ‘zero’ waste philosophy in the winery and vineyard, including recycled cardboard, bottles and aluminium screwcaps. We are part of the vineyard post recycling initiative, turning broken vineyard posts into farm fence posts. We also use eco trellis posts in all new plantings and as replacement posts in the older vineyards. These are steel posts - they don't break like wooden posts and are able to be recycled or reused at the end of the vineyard's life

Compost
We make our own compost from grape marc – the leftover grape skins, stalks, etc, from our harvest. It’s a free, organic, nutrient-dense resource that’s too good to waste; full of stems, skins and seeds. Given a little time on the compost heap, it turns into a vineyard superfood. We target spread the compost on some of our vineyard sites, assisting with soil health and vine nutrition.

Over winter, our vineyards are tended by a small flock of woolly weed-eaters. Grazing beneath the vines, sheep provide a gentle, low-impact approach to weed control at a time when soils are often wet and vulnerable. By avoiding heavy machinery, we reduce soil compaction and protect the living structure of our soils.
Their presence brings added benefit. As they move through the vineyard, sheep naturally return organic matter and nutrients to the soil, supporting soil biology and closing the loop in a way that aligns with our regenerative farming principles.
It’s a simple, circular system — one that works with nature rather than against it, and one we believe contributes to healthier soils, stronger vines and wines that speak more clearly of place.

Regenerative viticulture is centred on diverse, site-specific cover cropping to build healthy soils and resilient vines.
Multi-species mixes of cereals, legumes, brassicas, grasses and flowering plants are direct-drilled and managed through crimping rather than intensive tillage, improving soil structure, nutrient cycling, water retention and biodiversity. These practices reduce reliance on external inputs, support beneficial insects, enhance carbon sequestration and ultimately contribute to balanced vines and high-quality wines.

We have recently commissioned a solar energy system at the Winery that we hope will reduce our reliance on the grid by 90%.
The energy-saving plan doesn’t stop at solar energy; Chard Farm also utilises passive heating and cooling methods in the Winery. An evaporative cooler is used to keep the winery cool in the summer months. A heat recovery system is also used on our chiller unit to increase efficiency during wine warming and cooling operations.
In the winery, our underground barrel cellar features open earth gravel pits, which create ideal humidity and temperature conditions for maturation and protect the precious contents of our barrels.