Sustainability and Positive Impact

We're a working winery, restaurant, accommodation and events business. Every day we use energy, water, food, glass and a good deal of other things. Responsible tourism, as we understand it, means being honest about that, and steadily reducing it, while looking after the people and the region that make this place work.

What follows is what we're actually doing, with numbers where we have them.

Acknowledgement of Country

Cupitt's Estate operates on Yuin Country. We acknowledge the Budawang and Murramarang people of the Yuin Nation as Traditional Custodians of the land and waters here, and recognise their continuing connection to Country and community.

Food and organic waste

Around 70 tonnes of organic material is diverted from landfill each year, composted or reused here on the property.

That includes kitchen preparation waste, food waste, garden material and grape marc, the skins, seeds and stems left after pressing. Marc is composted to improve our soils, or used as seasonal supplementary feed for the cattle. The finished compost goes back into the farm, the vineyard and the kitchen garden.

Composting is the last step, though, not the first. Our chefs work to stop waste before it happens: careful ordering, proper storage, portion control, and menu planning that uses the whole ingredient.

Reusable wine kegs

Selected Cupitt's wines poured by the glass come from reusable 50-litre kegs. Each one holds the equivalent of about 67 bottles. The kegs do away with the bottles, labels, closures and cartons that would otherwise be needed. They also keep oxygen away from the wine during service, so nothing is lost to spoilage when an opened bottle doesn't sell quickly enough. Less packaging, and less wasted wine.

Water

Water matters here more than most things to the farm, the gardens, the winery, the restaurant and the villas. Our onsite treatment system processes wastewater from estate operations so it can be safely reused for irrigation. We collect rainwater and use it across the garden areas, taking pressure off other sources. Drinking water is filtered onsite, so we don't stock single-use plastic bottles.

Solar

We've recently installed solar across the winery and restaurant, the two parts of the business that draw the most power, between refrigeration, kitchen equipment, wine production, lighting and guest service. It's new enough that we don't yet have a full year of generation data. We'll publish the figures here once we do.

Staying in the villas

The villas use refillable bathroom products rather than individual miniatures. Each has filtered drinking water, separate bins for general waste, recycling and compostable material, and a towel reuse program that saves unnecessary washing, water and energy. Guests get clear information on how it all works when they arrive.

Careers on the South Coast

Young people from this region shouldn't have to leave it to build a career. That's the thinking behind our school-based traineeships, apprenticeships, work experience placements and the Cupitt's Gap Year program. The work is paid, the training is recognised, and for many it leads to ongoing employment in the kitchen, the cellar door, the vineyard or front of house.

Spending locally

We buy from the region wherever we can: food and beverage producers, trades, musicians, event suppliers. Weddings and events send that work further still, to photographers, florists, celebrants, entertainers, transport operators and nearby accommodation businesses. We point guests outward too, recommending walks, markets, producers, shops and events across the wider South Coast rather than keeping them on the property. We would love for you to visit as many of the wonderful operators in the region when you visit, see our list ofrecommendations.

Community

We support regional charities, schools, cultural events and community organisations through wine, dining and accommodation donations, sponsorships, auction prizes and use of our venue.

Access

OurAccessible Guidesets out the facilities available across the estate, along with the access limitations we know about.