More wines join the environment-friendly ranks
You don't have to be green to enjoy earth-friendly wines.
The wine industry is a leader in environmental protection. After all, if your livelihood depends on a piece of land and that land becomes un-farmable -- whether from your own impact, your neighbor's or the community's at large -- then you are out of business.
But since earth-friendly issues have only recently attracted the public attention, winemakers committed themselves to producing delicious, user-friendly wines that just happen to be pro-environment. Here are a few of my favorites
• Outdoor-types love the convenience of Tetra-Prism containers. Similar to juice boxes, Tetra-Prisms reduce packaging and weight by 90 percent (compared to standard bottles), are welcome where glass is verboten and make light, unbreakable additions to backpacks and picnic baskets.
French Rabbit combines New Age environmentalism with Old World winemaking in a berry-licious Pinot Noir and a refreshing Chardonnay, widely available for $9.99 in 1-liter Tetra-Prisms and the newly released French Rabbit Petit, 250 milliliter containers, $9.99 per four-pack.
• Economists look to sustainable agriculture as a model for businesses that integrate a healthy environment, thriving economy and social equity to remain profitable indefinitely. Says Paul Dolan, California's leader in organic and sustainable farming, "The future of business is to make the future its business."
In 1977, Dolan teamed with Mendocino County's Fetzer family to create the first mass-marketed, organically-grown wine brand, Bonterra. Today, his Parducci Winery practices sustainability from vineyards to bottling line. Parducci sources fruit from local, family-owned farms (which have declined by 1.25 million since the 1960s); they use biodiesel, solar electricity and other renewable energies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Printed materials are 100 percent recycled, tree-free and use soy-based ink. In 2007, these techniques, along with purchased carbon credits, led Parducci to be the first U.S. winery certified "carbon neutral."
Parducci's Sustainable White blends Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Canelli and Tokai for a refreshing, off-dry quaff with citrus and melon accents. Parducci's Sustainable Red blends seven grapes, including Merlot and Syrah, for a medium-bodied red with spicy berry flavors. Both are appealing complements to casual dishes and reflect their Mendocino County terroir. Available exclusively at Whole Foods, $10.99.
• Maybe you're a light drinker, who enjoys one-ish glasses of wine per day. Or maybe you're about to entertain hordes but have no clue how much they'll drink. Maybe you're a senior with tender hands, or a new wine-drinker who hasn't mastered a corkscrew. For these wine lovers and more, the answer is bag-in-box.
Using less energy to make and transport, bag-in-box technology cuts the carbon footprint of glass bottles by half, with 85 percent less packaging waste. According to "Better Wines, Better World," bag-in-boxing all mass-marketed wines would save 1.5 million tons of CO2 per year, the equivalent of taking a quarter of a million cars off the road.
Black Box is a popular choice, with varieties including an Australian Barossa Valley Shiraz and Pinot Grigio from Italy's Veneto. Find these and other "flavors" at wine and spirits shops and groceries, $21.99 per 3-liter box. For more bag-in-box brands, visit www.betterwinesbetterworld.com.
• The jury is still out on the question of quality in organic wines: vines not dependent on chemical herbicides and pesticides may be healthier, but is the wine necessarily better?
Serious cork dorks can weigh the evidence rendered in the brutally hot, dry 2003 French vintage. From many growers, over-ripened fruit and reduced acidity created lush but flabby wines, dubbed "American-style" by some, "ridiculous" by others, "not age-worth" by nearly everyone. But the 2003 Jobard Meursaults exhibits taut, minerally complexity, promising even greater refinement in maturity.
According to Antoine Jobard, his family's wines maintained their world-renowned-style through organic farming. "Our vines don't rely on chemicals. The roots must search hard for natural nourishment and are very deep. They found water where chemically-farmed vines could not."
With ample nourishment, vines withstood heat to produce fruit typical of the family's 12-acre estate. Producing only 2,000 bottles per year, these wines are pricey and hard to find. Check availability of Jobard Meursault with your fine wine merchant.
On May 5, a panel of winemakers and trades people in Santa Rosa, Calif., will judge the first "Green Wine Competition," thus creating a consumer guide to international, earth-friendly wines. Winners are expected to be announced May 15 and will be available at www.greenwinecomp.info.
© 2008
Ross' choice
Blanc de Noirs
Mumm Napa
Napa Valley, Calif.
• Suggested retail and availability: $19 at wine and liquor stores
Celebrate the season with this sparkler that's fresh as a springtime breeze. Made primarily of Pinot Noir (the "Noirs" in "Blanc de…") the wine is coral-pink with an enticing bouquet, light, dry-ish berry flavors and long, refreshing finish. Perfect with fruity or spicy cuisines (Waldorf salad, Asian ribs) and as a gentle complement to breakfast, lunch or dinner.