John Fogarty, Fogarty Wine Group’s director of operations and head viticulturist. Image courtesy Lauren Trickett

Evans & Tate has officially become a full signatory to the Margaret River Wine Association (MRWA) Lightweight Glass Charter.

The charter commits wineries to reducing the average 750ml still wine bottle weight to below 420 grams—a key strategy in lowering carbon emissions. Evans & Tate has consistently used bottles averaging under 420g since 2019. By signing the charter, the winery is formally recognised for its proactive efforts in minimising its carbon footprint and contributing to the region’s broader sustainability goals.

The MRWA Lightweight Glass Charter also serves as a resource for trade and consumers seeking wineries that are taking tangible action to reduce emissions and improve sustainability.

MRWA CEO Amanda Whiteland highlighted the importance of this initiative.

“We are committed to continuous improvement, and supporting our members in the transition to lightweight glass is a key step in our broader sustainability efforts,” she said. “By switching to lightweight glass bottles, wineries can reduce emissions by over 20%—a relatively simple change with a significant impact.”

“We believe the Margaret River Wine Region can lead the way in adopting lightweight glass, setting an example for sustainable wine production globally,” said Whiteland.

Fogarty Wine Group, the parent company of Evans & Tate, has all its vineyard holdings across Margaret River (over 400ha) certified under Sustainable Winegrowing Australia (SWA). This certification is awarded to vineyards and wineries that demonstrate best practices in environmental, social, and economic sustainability, ensuring continuous improvement through rigorous independent auditing.

Fogarty Wine Group’s director of operations and head viticulturist, John Fogarty, emphasised the company’s dedication to sustainability, describing the commitment as “another great step forward” in the company’s sustainability program.

“In the past 18 months, we have achieved certification for both Margaret River wineries—Margaret River Vintners and Deep Woods Estate—as well as all FWG vineyards across the Margaret River region. The team at Evans & Tate have done a great job to meet the commitment of the MRWA Lightweight Glass Charter. I look forward to building our sustainability program further across Evans & Tate and the wider Fogarty Wine Group.”

To learn more about the MRWA Lightweight Glass Charter signatories, see https://margaretriver.wine/lightweight-glass-packaging-charter/

Are you a Daily Wine News subscriber? If not, click here to join our mailing list. It’s free!