By Marie-Antoinette Issa.
On the sunburnt banks of the Murray River South Australia, Oxford Landing is quietly rewriting the rules of Australian winemaking. This is a winery that has long embraced tradition, since 1948, to be precise.
Today with six generations of the Hill-Smith family at the helm, it’s also looking squarely to the future, proving that sustainability isn’t just a box to tick - it’s the next vintage to savour.
At the heart of Oxford Landing’s ethos is a simple idea: every bottle can give back. The winery’s purpose-driven collections, Regenerate and One-to-One, showcase how wine can be both delicious and responsible.
Regenerate features Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, all crafted under Sustainable Winegrowing Certification guidelines. Each sip reflects a vineyard in harmony with its ecosystem – vines coexisting with birds, frogs, insects and bats – while supporting the Riverland community in preserving native flora, biodiversity and precious water resources.
One-to-One takes things a step further with direct action. For every six-pack purchased, one square metre of native bushland is planted through Greenfleet. To date, more than 30,000 square metres have been restored and protected for a century. It’s sustainability you can taste and see – a tangible connection between bottle and bush.
Oxford Landing isn’t just talking the talk. Earlier this year, Hill-Smith Family Estates became Australia’s first Gold Member of the International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA), cementing the group’s leadership in science-backed carbon reduction. Renewable energy now powers 20 per cent of operations, lightweight recycled bottles cut 254 tonnes of emissions annually and 100 per cent of wastewater is repurposed for drought-tolerant vines across the family’s vineyards.
More than 215,000 native trees and shrubs have been planted since 2007, alongside 30,000 square metres of bushland through Greenfleet partnerships. Vegan-friendly production, local bottling and full traceability ensure every glass is as responsible as it is refreshing.
"My hope for the industry is simple – that there is a future for it. In a changing climate, with 1.7 billion more people expected on the planet by 2050, we all need to do our part to reach Net Zero and ensure there’s still a place for vineyards and winemaking in the decades ahead,” says Louisa Rose, Head of Sustainability at Hill-Smith Family Estates.
It’s an ethos that extends beyond awards and accolades; it’s about creating a blueprint for the next generation of vintners, one that balances the love of craft with the realities of climate change.
Oxford Landing’s work hasn’t gone unnoticed. In 2025, the winery earned the SAWIA Environment Excellence Award, Coles Sustainability Partner of the Year and the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia/Riverland Wine Trophy for Best Sustainable Wine. These accolades reflect a commitment to doing more than just surviving in a changing world – they highlight a drive to lead and inspire.
Even the wines themselves are a conversation starter. With Regenerate, you’re tasting grapes nurtured in vineyards that prioritise ecological health. With One-to-One, every bottle purchased directly contributes to land restoration. It’s a tangible reminder that sustainable choices don’t need to come at the expense of quality. In fact, Oxford Landing proves the opposite: the richer the environmental care, the more expressive the vintage.
Oxford Landing is more than a winery; it’s a movement. By pairing science-backed sustainability with accessible, purpose-driven wines, it’s demonstrating that responsibility and indulgence can coexist. For anyone who loves wine, the future doesn’t just look brighter – it tastes brighter too.
Whether you’re swirling a glass of Pinot Grigio on a sunlit deck or decanting a Shiraz to share over a long dinner, Oxford Landing’s message is clear: the best vintages don’t just come from the vine – they come from the care we show the land, the community and the generations to come.
