Forage Supply Co 'Rib Tickler' Barossa Valley Shiraz 2023

Scott Rogasch and Justin Westhoff, both raised in South Australia’s iconic Barossa Valley wine region, have a passion for conservation and social responsibility. As a well-travelled diver, Scott saw at first hand the damage being done to the planet, while Justin, a former AFL player, has a young family with a future to protect. Together they have established a social enterprise called Forage Supply Co. with the aim of increasing awareness of achievable sustainable lifestyle choices. Based in Tanunda in the Barossa the company works with a local school to grow healthier produce in a community for the school’s canteen and a homeless shelter in the town. They’ve also established an organic winery and the profit from all their wines goes towards funding their projects in South Australia to provide housing and work for the local homeless community. Their mission statement is ‘Smallest impact on the environment. Greatest impact on the community.’

Environmental sustainability
They practise spontaneous fermentation reducing the need for laboratory made yeast, and make little to no additions to their wines, creating sustainable products that are environmentally and consumer friendly. They use manures in the vineyard to increase nitrogen levels naturally, and they don’t use pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilisers. All their bottle production has been moved to a local Adelaide plant called Visy to minimise mileage and they are looking at releasing bag in box wines this year as a sustainable packaging solution. 

Social sustainability
Forage ensure that all workers including temporary contractors are paid a good rate, treated fairly and that there is no child labour in the supply chain. They have a sister non-profit organisation called Forage Built, set up to build tiny houses to combat homelessness in South Australia.