[Featured Image Courtesy of Benziger]
WINERIES WHO CELEBRATE EARTH DAY EVERY DAY
With the approach of Earth Day, many people and businesses turn their attention to issues concerning the environment, sustainability and the connections between generations. It is no different in the wine world. Actually, for many wineries every day is Earth Day. More and more wineries are committing to sustainable practices as their fundamental business model. So why not drink wines that make a difference by giving back to the environment and society?
One of the leaders in this movement is the Benziger Family Winery. At Benziger, sustainability is a family affair with around 24 members who live in and around the Sonoma Mountain winery. The winery was established on an 85-acre estate in Glen Ellen in 1980. Soon after, the family became convinced natural techniques yielded more flavorful, aromatic grapes with more site-specific character. Importantly, they found these practices also improved the health of the estate.
So, in 1996, they began converting the property into a biodynamic farm that in 2000 became one of the first Demeter-certified biodynamic vineyards in North America. Today, the family owns and farms four certified biodynamic Sonoma County vineyard estates on 168 acres.
The Benziger’s also work with their network of growers to extend their approach, requiring that all growers participate in a sustainability program that outlines standards for areas like soil vitality, biodiversity, water conservation and integrated pest management. Today, every wine crafted by Benziger carries a green farming certification from a third party certifier on its front label – sustainable, organic or biodynamic.
I had an opportunity a few weeks ago to have lunch with Jeff McBride, Benziger’s Vice President of Winemaking, and taste several recent releases. McBride joined the Benziger two years ago after more than three decades of winemaking in Sonoma and Washington. It was a delightful, wide ranging conversation. And, of course, I enjoyed the wines. I suggest you try the following wines (and seek out the many others Benziger produces):
2011 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon ($20). Inviting aromas of dark fruits – plum, currant and cherry, black olives and herbs, well structured with nice, powdery tannins and a fresh finish.
2010 Sonoma County Merlot ($19). Pleasant aromas of blueberry and blackberry with a touch of spice, similar flavors and a touch of licorice finish with velvety tannins.
2012 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($29). Really nice aromas of black cherry and light touches of earth, silky palate delivers more cherry, mushroom and light spice.
2011 Sonoma County Chardonnay ($16). Loads of tropical fruit aromas accented with stone fruits like pear and a palate lifted with crisp citrus.
2012 North Coast Sauvignon Blanc ($15). Bright citrus – grapefruit and lime – and herbal aromas and flavors make this a perennially delightful Sauvignon Blanc.
Cultivate Wines represent the social aspect of the sustainability movement. The brainchild of noted Santa Barbara wine investor Charles Banks and his wife, Ali, this is a wine company dedicated to putting money back into local community projects by donating a portion of all sales. Cultivate gives back 10 cents of every dollar to help fund projects of opportunity and hope in communities across the globe.
They also are members of “1 Percent For The Planet,” an alliance of businesses that contribute at least 1 percent of their net annual sales to environmental organizations helping to protect forests, rivers and oceans, make agricultural and energy production more sustainable, get toxics out of the environment, and more.
Two good examples of their wines I tasted recently are sourced from Chile.
2011 Cultivate “Wonderlust” Chardonnay-Moscatell ($13). From the Colchagua Valley, Valle Centrale of Chile, the Chardonnay shows bright citrus and tropical fruit. The small amount of moscatell lifts the aromatics and adds weight to the palate. This is the first time I have seen this combination of grapes but it works!
2011 Cultivate “Copa Cabana” Cabernet Sauvignon-Carmenère-Syrah ($13). 
From Curicó, Valle Centrale of Chile, this blend offers juicy red and black fruits, nice accents of spice and a sensual texture.
Recent studies sponsored by The Wine Institute indicate that the sustainable, eco-friendly and socially responsible attributes of wine are increasingly important considerations for consumers when making wine purchasing decisions. Producers who many years ago began transitioning to sustainable practices but were reticent to publicize this over concerns about the poor reputation of early “natural wines” now are learning that socially conscious wine consumers are interested in information about sustainable and environmentally friendly practices in wineries and vineyards.
So, increasingly, producers are putting seals, logos or other information about sustainable practices on their bottles, often including third-party certification seals/statements to indicate sustainable, organic, or biodynamic practices. And consumers are responding.
So, this Earth Day (and beyond) raise a glass of sustainable wine knowing you can drink well while doing good.