Over the period of the last 13 months Mission Estate Winery has increased its tank configuration to increase processing capacity that will enable the winery to process the fruit off its new Marlborough vineyard. Up till this time it has been possible to house all winery vessels under cover, and in doing so minimise energy use and maximise the wineries potential as a sustainable producer. However due to the demand for extra capacity it has been necessary to install some new tank capacity outside the winery buildings on a dedicated exterior concrete pad.
Mindful of maintaining the wineries very low energy use, the intention is to utilise the extra capacity situated outside the winery buildings only during vintage and the winter months. This is the time frame where extra capacity is required. The intention is not to use the new capacity on the exterior pad after the month of August in each calendar year.
In April 2012 the new exterior tanks were first used to cope with a large fruit intake for the 2012 vintage. There has been no evidence of an increase in relative energy use. Indeed the 10 year average energy use is 0.184 kWh per litre of wine produced. In the year to June 30 2011 energy use was 0.142 kWh per litre of wine produced. In the year to June 30 2012 energy use was 0.124 kWh per litre of wine produced. Economies of scale are off setting any extra energy use associated with tanks situated outside of the winery building.
It is anticipated that the winery will achieve a result of less than 0.13 kWh per litre of wine produced in the year to June 2013. We’re proud to say we remain as energy efficient as ever.
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