Although it’s technically Earth Month, it’s prudent to honor our planet at all times – don’t you agree? I remember the first Earth Day, having spent a few hours gathering litter on the school grounds with friends. Many years have gone by and I’m still trying my best to do whatever it takes to keep our planet safe for generations to come. How can a wine lover do that? Pour one of many sustainable and vegan wines available.
Just recently, I was asked to suggest earth-friendly wines during a segment on Good Day Sacramento. I shared four choices that are not only delicious and food friendly, but are sustainable and/or vegan. Cheers to that!
Yalumba pioneered the growth and making of Viognier in Australia and planted the country’s first commercial vineyard of the variety in 1980. This wine sings with intense aromas of orange blossom, fresh ginger, hints of honeysuckle and white flowers. On the palate, notes of apricot, figs and fennel are stunning.
From Paso Robles, California is Rabble Rose 2021 ($19.99), a deliciously dry rose of Syrah and Grenache. The grapes are from sustainably grown vineyards that are Certified California Sustainable. In essence, Rabble Wines is reducing water usage, reducing pesticide usage, protecting natural vineyard ecosystems, reducing carbon emissions and caring for their employees – it’s working with Mother Nature instead of against it! Rabble is committed to zero-carbon offset emissions and carbon neutral delivery. Solar energy and minimal vineyard irrigation are also used to reduce energy consumption and waste and wastewater is converted into a nutrient rich soil additive that improves soil health.
About this wine! Fragrant aromas of strawberry, grapefruit, kiwi, watermelon waft from the glass and flavors include fresh stone and citrus fruit lifted with mouthwatering acidity.
A bottle of ROOT:1 Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 ($12) from Chile is always at the ready in my house! From Maipo Valley, known for producing outstanding red wines with rich color, full body, and classic characteristics of the variety, ROOT:1 is the first winery in the country to be certified 100% sustainable by the Wines of Chile – it’s also the first winery in the country to adopt carbon offset measures. Sustainable viticulture in the winery’s vineyards in Maipo, Colchagua and Casablanca Valleys, ensures that all farming and winemaking practices are tailored to each unique vineyard, the environment and local community. Energy conservation is of utmost importance and all water used in the winery is recycled for irrigation.
This full bodied wine is aged for 10 months in American and French oak. Aromas and flavors include ripe berries, cassis, plums, dark cherries, and mocha framed with soft tannins and a lingering finish.
Recently, ROOT:1 released a new “bag in the box” wine, ROOT:1 GEA 2020 ($25 for a 3L box) called GEA (pronounced jee-uh). The name is derived from the Greek word for Earth to underscore ROOT:1’s commitment to sustainability. The 3L box is easily portable and is a huge value. The wine itself, Cabernet Sauvignon with 10% Pais, a local Chilean grape, is from certified sustainable vineyards. Its production is powered by clean energy sources such as solar panels that fuel the facilities. The team monitors water usage and the winery maximizes waste management by returning natural resources to their vineyards, reusing almost 80% of inorganic materials and adapting a natural approach to nourishing the grapes – intervention is only used when necessary to protect the health of the vines. ROOT:1 supports local initiatives and cultivated partnerships with small grape growing families to encourage the cultivation of traditional varieties such as Pais.
Cheers! ~ Cindy
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