Perched 150 metres above sea level and just 10 kilometres from Gulf St Vincent, Orbis Vineyard is one of the highest and coolest sites in McLaren Vale.

Spanning across 32 hectares, the vineyard is surrounded by native woodlots and remnant vegetation, home to diverse eucalypts and an abundance of native wildlife. We’re fortunate to share this land with a rich mix of birdlife, insects, reptiles, and mammals – and we prioritise both protecting and enhancing their habitat.

The vines we grow reflect our forward-looking approach, with varieties from the warmer, drier wine regions of Southern Rhône, Southern Italy, and Spain – including Nero d’Avola, Montepulciano, Tempranillo, Trousseau, Cinsault, Albariño, Fiano, and Garganega.

Our commitment to exploring new varieties is matched by a deep respect for McLaren Vale’s heritage. We continue to regenerate and care for our old vine Shiraz, planted in the 1960s and '70s by Ryecroft, as well as the Leask and Hardy families. We also celebrate the enduring strength and climatic suitability of Grenache – a true icon of the region.

Sustainability has always been at the heart of Orbis Wines, guiding every aspect of how we grow and make our wine. We’ve long embraced regenerative, circular farming practices to support the natural health and fertility of the soil and vines.

To further strengthen our commitment, we’ve partnered with GT Viticulture – leaders in the management of organic and biodynamic vineyards – and over the next three years, will move towards our goal of a full Organic and Biodynamic certification.

We believe that healthy soils and thriving ecosystems are essential to crafting environmentally friendly, sustainable wines. This journey through the “in conversion” phase reflects and embodies our values.

Our vineyard is also certified under the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia program, which holds us accountable to continuous improvement across environmental, social, and economic dimensions of our business.

Orbis is committed to restoring soil health, preserving biodiversity, and protecting our precious water sources.

True sustainability begins with regeneration. Before we can sustain, we must repair the ecosystem that supports us. Inspired by the McLaren Vale community's leadership in organics, we aim to contribute to that legacy.

Our sustainability approach aligns with the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, reaching beyond traditional definitions. We’re actively reducing emissions, sequestering carbon on-site, and creating meaningful opportunities for emerging winemakers and viticulturists.

One of our many innovations towards the achievement of our sustainability goals has been the integration of sheep grazing into our vineyard. What began as autumn and winter grazing has evolved into year-round cellular grazing of our Babydoll sheep. The majority of our vineyard has now been established with 1.35m high cordons, to allow our vines to thrive without the need for undervine herbicides or mechanical weed management. 

Another natural ally in our vineyard ecosystem, our chickens provide us with an integrated poultry system. These free-ranging birds actively forage among the vines, helping to control pest populations by consuming harmful insects and larvae that could otherwise damage the grapes. Beyond pest management, their scratching and pecking behavior aerates the soil, promoting better water infiltration and root growth.

As the chickens move through the vineyard, their droppings enrich the soil with valuable nutrients, enhancing soil fertility and stimulating the activity of beneficial microorganisms. This natural fertilisation supports a vibrant soil ecosystem that is crucial for healthy vine development.

By incorporating chickens into our vineyard management, we embrace a holistic, closed-loop approach that reduces reliance on synthetic chemicals, fosters biodiversity, and strengthens the resilience of our vineyard ecosystem. This synergy between animals and vines reflects our commitment to regenerative viticulture and producing wines that truly express the health of the land.

Maintaining a permanent green cover throughout the vineyard is a cornerstone of our regenerative approach. This living blanket supports a thriving biodiversity by providing essential habitat and food sources for beneficial insects, reptiles, and other native wildlife. These natural inhabitants play a critical role in pest control and pollination, helping to maintain the ecological balance within our vineyard ecosystem.

Beyond supporting wildlife, it also enhances our soil health by increasing soil carbon levels and fostering a diverse community of microbes. These microorganisms are vital for nutrient cycling, improving soil structure, and boosting water retention – key factors that lead to healthier vines and more resilient vineyards. By nurturing this vibrant soil life, we create a self-sustaining system that reduces the need for chemical inputs and strengthens the vineyard’s ability to withstand environmental stresses.

The permanent green cover not only enriches the natural environment but also directly contributes to the quality and character of the grapes we grow, reflecting our commitment to sustainability and excellence in every bottle.

We enrich our vineyard soils by applying nutrient-rich composted mulch derived from grape waste and sustainable forestry by-products. This eco-friendly approach not only recycles organic materials that would otherwise go to waste but also enhances soil structure, promotes beneficial microbial activity, and improves water retention.

Our grapes travel only a few meters to our off-grid winery, we can preserve their integrity and delicate flavours also eliminating the need for in-field sulphur additions and significantly reduce transport-related carbon emissions.