Richmond Plains has a passionate and committed team driven by the strong belief in truly working with nature. By using organic methods to grow and nurture their vines, without the use of synthetic chemicals, Richmond Plains can naturally express the vineyard’s character in their wines, preserving the natural environment for future generations and providing a healthy choice for consumers. Richmond Plains an 8ha family-owned vineyard near Nelson, has been certified organic since 1992 and in 2008 became the first New Zealand vineyard to carry both organic and biodynamic certification. The vineyard was also the first to produce certified organic versions of New Zealand’s signature varieties – Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Eco-friendly in all that it does, Richmond Plains employs the best environmental practices in the vineyard, organically and biodynamically harnessing all that nature has to offer. Richmond Plains has taken the initiative to follow Demeter international winemaking standards in the winery making New Zealand’s first Demeter certified wine, their Richmond Plains Pinot Noir 2010, demonstrating the depth of their commitment to marketing environmentally friendly wines. The vineyard owned by environmental idealists Lars and Sam Jensen is a carbon sink, i.e. More carbons are being put back into the earth through compost and mulching, etc. Than is being used in the production of its wines. No synthetic chemicals are used in the making of Richmond Plains wines, so there are no residues that can find their way into the wine where it can be harmful to humans or into the environment where it can upset the natural balance.