Drink well, do good things. Meet the producers having a real impact on their communities and the environment.
Giving back is good business, plain and simple. Whether it’s doing our bit for the environment, helping our community or sending money to those who need it most, we can all agree that leaving the world a little brighter than we found it is a worthy pursuit.
So, in that spirit, we’ve rounded up a list of winemakers, brewers and distillers going that extra mile. From the team at 4 Pines planting a native tree, shrub or grass for every carton of 4 Pines Pacific Ale sold to a South Australian winery finding forever homes for our furry friends, these producers are setting the benchmark for social and environmentally responsible business. Some are even going bigger on their usual efforts this month ahead of Earth Week.
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1. Y Series
We love Yalumba’s entire Y Series. Not only are the wines bloody good, but the team has also committed to planting one square metre of bushland for every bottle sold. From the profits raised in April, Yalumba will revive 10,000 square metres of koala habitat in partnership with Greenfleet.
When it comes to the wines, there are plenty of options to choose from. After something with a lower ABV? Try the lighter range, which includes a cuvee, pinot grigio, and chardy (these wines come in at 7% ABV). And then there's the classics – the viognier, riesling and, our pick, the pinot grigio (these wines have an ABV of between 10.5% and 13.5%).
2. 4 Pines
If you’re into fresh, fruity and floral ales, the 4 Pines Pacific Ale is right up your alley. The brewery in Sydney’s Manly produces a distinctly full-bodied style that’s jam-packed with passionfruit, pineapple and pear notes, but it all gets reined in with a smooth, dry and easy finish. Oh, and did we mention it’s a mid-strength beer? You may not even notice.
The team at 4 Pines like to say “You drink the beer, we do the good stuff”, and that includes donating proceeds of their sales towards planting trees in South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula through a partnership with Landcare. The B-Corp certified brewery has committed to plant up to 44,444 native trees, shrubs and grasses over a four-year period with Landcare. And for the month of April, they’ll plant a tree, shrub or grass for every carton of 4 Pines Pacific Ale sold – even more incentive to try this tasty mid-strength right now.
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3. One to One
We love that the vegan wines in the One to One range are sustainably grown and made, produced with minimal intervention in the winery, and bottled in 98% recycled – and recyclable – lightweight glass. Not only that, but this wine range also spans a choice of styles, from a fresh sparkling and light rosé to rich red wines (we’re big fans of the shiraz) and they come with a very friendly under-$20 price tag.
If all that doesn’t convince you, for every six bottles of One to One wine sold, a square metre of bushland is planted. But for the month of April, they’re going even better and planting a square metre of bushland for every single bottle sold, so now there’s more incentive to try these tasty South Australian wines.
4. Sit Stay Society
Named for the family pet, Sit Stay Society’s range of top-notch drops are not only delicious, but they also make a difference in the lives of our furry friends. Producing regional standouts like the Toby’s Shiraz Tempranillo, Ruby’s Rosé and Max’s Cabernet Malbec, they’re a lock for fantastic South Australian wine (and contenders for most adorable labels).
Sit Stay Society donates 50c from every 375mL bottle sold and $1 from each 750mL bottle sold to PetRescue, an organisation committed to making pet adoption mainstream. Who’s a good winery? Sit Stay Society is!
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5. Unico Zelo
Brendan and Laura Carter established Unico Zelo in 2014 to highlight Australia’s unique native ingredients and honour thousands of years of Indigenous custodianship and farming. Their range of lo-fi wine is at the forefront of Australia’s minimal-intervention movement, and they also set the benchmark for locally made spirits. Although the Økar Mando and Cello liqueurs that you see here are rare as hen’s teeth outside of South Australia, the gin from their Applewood Distillery is easy to come by, downright delicious and sets a bold tone for the future of Aussie drink-making.
Unico Zelo is a certified B Corporation, holding itself to the highest verifiable standards possible. This places it among a raft of global members pushing for inclusive, equitable, regenerative economies and businesses. Transparency is a key principle for B Corporations, so you can view all of Unico Zelo’s activities on their Sustainability Tracker. We’ll raise a glass to that.
6. The Gospel
Australian whisky (and whiskey) is on the up, and Melbourne’s The Gospel is leading the charge. Launched in 2019, this young Brunswick distillery was founded out of a love of rye, making Australia’s first legally labelled ‘100% Straight’ rye whiskey in strict accordance with American standards. Earning a legion of fans both here and State-side, they’ve since branched out with a non-alcoholic rye whiskey, a delicious pinot noir-based vermouth and more.
Sustainability and responsible business practices are more than tokenism for The Gospel. Their packaging is entirely recyclable, and they divert their spent waste from landfill. Additionally, The Gospel donates 2.5% of its net profit to a charity partner of your choice (including McAuley Community Services for Women and Operation Flinders Foundation) with every online purchase. You know what to do.
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7. Stone & Wood
It’s hard to believe the Stone & Wood story began as recently as 2008. This B Corp-certified, Byron Bay-based brewery was founded by three mates with the vision of creating a conscious local business, and while the company – and its ownership – has since evolved, its beers remain synonymous with the Aussie craft beer movement. We’ll wager there isn’t a pub or bottle-o that doesn’t stock their Pacific Ale.
In 2013, Stone & Wood established Ingrained, a community-focused initiative designed to give back to the communities where their beer is made, sold and enjoyed. They raised and donated over $630,000 between 2013 and 2018 when the initiative went national as the inGrained Foundation. Today, the foundation hosts annual fundraising events like the Murbah Open Day and the Festival of the Stone. It continues to donate $1 for every 100 litres of beer they produce to local communities.
8. Seven Seasons
The brainchild of former AFL player and proud Larrakia man Daniel Motlop, Seven Seasons is a sustainable distillery making some of our best spirits and liqueurs, working hand in hand with local Indigenous communities. Together, they harvest bush apples, green ants, strawberry gum, yams and more in the Northern Territory for their wide range. Following traditional generations-old harvesting methods, they ensure the insects and environment are treated in the best, most sustainable ways.
One of the most popular Seven Seasons products is Green Ant Gin. Long known for their medicinal benefits and protein content, native green ants also happen to be pretty tasty. They bring to this gin bright coriander, kaffir lime leaf, citrus and lime flavours, which are enhanced by a swag of other native botanicals. By buying a bottle, you’re helping the team to uphold ancient traditions and empower the locals who know them best.
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