Wines that Celebrate Earth Day
These wines celebrate going the extra step; whether it’s ensuring the grapes are grown in a manner that protects the environment, preserves the soil, limit the amount of synthetic fertilizers or their use of creating more energy efficient ways in creating their wines and reducing waste.
When shopping for Earth-friendly wines, look for the “green” label in the store. Here are a few that you might find…
Tarantas Tempranillo…. $9.49
Wine Enthusiast (Best Buy) 87 pts.
Made with organically grown grapes. This classic Spanish red greets you with spice aromas and follows through with a soft and silky entry to a dryish medium body.
Tarantas Monastrell….$10.99
Black cherry with violet hues and a smooth texture that opens up with savory red fruits and soft round tannins with a well balanced acidity.
Con Sur Pinot Noir, Chardonnary and Cabernet Sauvignon…$10.99
Made with organically grown grapes
Pratsch Gruner Veltliner….$12.99
Made with organically grown grapes
Spartico Tempranillo…$11.99
No sulfites added and organic wine with ruby red color with fresh aroma fruit notes and a medium to long finish
Our Daily Red…. 8.49
Sourced from Organic Vineyards and free of preservatives
A lighter-style, fruit forward red blend with a hint of violets on the nose and loaded with black fruit on the palate
Santa Julia Tempranillo, Malbec, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Grigio… $9.99-$10.99
Made with organically grown grapes
Bonterra Wines
They have been producing wine from 100% organically grown grapes since 1993. All of their grapes are grown using certified organic practices, such as composting, cover crops, and biodiversity.
Try their Cabernet Sauvignon….$14.99
This Cabernet offers aromas of bright cherry, currant, and raspberry with notes of toasted oak and vanilla.
Or their Chardonnay…. $12.99
Aromas of honey and lightly toasted almonds, followed by tropical aromas of pineapple, citrusy lemon and crème brulee.
Check out how these wineries are practicing sustainability too…
Kim Crawford Wines
– The winery has a comprehensive recycling program
– Staff are trained to minimize use or reuse of certain chemicals
– They use water-reducing equipment, reduce their electricity, and even lower their office paper usage
Try their Sauvignon Blanc….$16.99
Citrus and tropical fruits with herbaceous notes and juicy acidity with fruit sweetness on the palate.
Unoaked Chardonnay…. $16.99
We also carry their Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir
Clos du Bois Wines
– 90% of all their solid waste generated by the winery is recycled or composted
– They installed 4.464 solar panels to reduce green house emissions
– They get involved with Habitat restoration projects that help develop ecological landscapes or support local wildlife
Estancia Wines
– Switched to a lightweight bottle to reduce impact of shipping
– Implemented low volume electric static sprayers, eliminated pre-emergent pesticides while using less water and pest control chemicals
Black Box
– Fully recyclable box that contains 3 liters of wine – no glass required
Blackstone Wines
– Lowered carbon dioxide emissions by approximetly 324 tons per year!
Robert Mondavi
– Started a “green team” that meets quarterly to address conservation opportunities
– Invested in energy-efficient practices with their equipment
A few things to remember:
We often get asked if we carry “organic wines.” The quick answer is “yes,” but with that it is important to know that just like organic food, wine is classified in a variety of ways. Depending on the practices, techniques, guidelines, and certifications can determine how wine is classified or labeled.
Wines that are sold as “made with organic grapes” have different requirements than organic wine. When a wine is labeled as being made with organic grapes, 100% of those grapes used must be certified organic. Yeast and any other agricultural ingredients aren’t required to be organic, but have to be produced without excluded methods (like genetic engineering). Finally, sulfites may be added to wines that carry the “made with organic grapes” label—up to 100 parts per million.” –USDA
The three most common classifications you will come across will be:
Organic Wine | Made from 100% organically grown ingredients and has been monitored throughout the entire production process. Often carries legal certification from USDA.
Biodynamic Wines | Practices carried out in an effort to balance the entire vineyard with nature and the moon cycles. This practice stems from the belief that the vineyard is one ecosystem and that only when in balance can grow the best fruit. No legal certification.
Sustainable Wine | Farming that is good for the environment while also paying attention to the economics. If something doesn’t make sense economically for the winery, they might skip that step. No legal certification.
Although it can get complicated, the important thing is recognizing that small steps are being made to help take care of mother nature and our world. Don’t forget when you finish that bottle to find the recycling bin and go outside and enjoy this beautiful place we live in.