Carbon Shiraz

Carbon Shiraz is a soil carbon sequestration project developed by Temple Bruer Wines Pty Ltd, located across multiple viticultural regions in South Australia. The project is an aggregated undertaking spanning three distinct areas: Langhorne Creek (approximately 50km southeast of Adelaide), the Eden Valley (near Angaston), and the Riverland (near Loxton and Moorook). Registered in August 2022, the project covers 124.77 hectares of vineyard land. The primary land use in these areas is viticulture, surrounded by broadacre cropping and grazing operations.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon methodology (Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models). Soil carbon projects involve altering agricultural management practices to store more carbon in the soil. Standard requirements for this method include establishing a baseline of soil organic carbon through core sampling and testing, and then implementing "new or materially different" management activities to sequester more carbon over time. Once established, subsequent measurement and modeling are used to calculate the sequestered carbon.

Given the geographic spread, the project sites experience varying environmental conditions. The Riverland sites are situated in a semi-arid zone characterized by low rainfall and sandy loam soils over limestone, heavily dependent on irrigation. In contrast, the Eden Valley site experiences a cooler climate with higher rainfall and rocky, sandy soils, while Langhorne Creek sits on alluvial sandy loams on the Bremer River floodplain. The project activities address specific local soil challenges, including the application of synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizers to address nutrient deficiencies, and applying gypsum to manage sodic or magnesic soils. Additionally, the project is re-establishing and rejuvenating pasture by seeding or pasture cropping, which in a vineyard context involves managing mid-row cover crops like legumes or cereals between the vines to improve biomass and soil structure.

Interestingly, the proponent, Temple Bruer Wines, is a prominent certified organic winery known for its carbon-neutral practices. This project acts as a formalization of their ongoing regenerative farming efforts. Participant Deane Belfield, a regenerative farmer and consultant, has collaborated with the winery to enhance soil health and vineyard productivity. The winery is also notably involved in the production and application of biochar, returning vineyard by-products like vine prunings to the soil to improve carbon sequestration, water retention, and ultimately the flavor and quality of their wines.