Wineries Around The World Practice Earth Day Every Day
Though the official month of celebrating the earth comes each April, environmental stewardship is an everyday concern for many wineries. Here are a few whose recent initiatives are helping make it a little easier being green.
Domaine Carneros offers a new rose that is “powered by the sun.”
Domaine Carneros, the Napa Valley sparkling wine producer, introduces its 2023 Avant Garde Pinot Noir Rose, its first microgrid-powered wine. The estate installed new microgrid technology in 2023—among the first wineries in the Napa Valley to do so—and as an expansion of its existing solar energy program that was first installed in 2003 (the time, the largest such installation at any winery). The new microgrid connects to a state-of-the-art battery system that can store energy to offset peak energy times and be used in off-peak times. It is capable of suppling the winery with about 75% of its energy needs and also ensures an independent power source during natural disasters, says CEO Remi Cohen. The wine will go on sale on the winery’s website on today, April 22 (SRP: $32).
The new “Powered by the Sun” wine is a continuation of the numerous sustainable practices in place at the estate, including water reuse, packaging reuse and Integrated Pest Management using natural controls for vineyard pests. As a long-time practice, the estate has composted, reused and recycled materials to divert more than 90% of waste from landfills, and uses grape pomace/must as feed for California cattle.
Since last the Earth Day, Terrazas de los Andes, a high-altitude winegrower in Mendoza, since the early 1990s, has achieved Regenerative Organic Certified status (ROC) for 213 acres of vineyards and for the winery—the 10th winery worldwide to earn the certification. The remainder of the approximately 1,000 acres of vineyards are managed in a regenerative organic manner, with the goal of achieving ROC certification for all by 2026.
The certification is part of Terrazas de los Andes’ overall sustainability program, “Guardians of Mountain Life,” which estate director Lucas Löwi calls part of the winery’s “unwavering dedication to responsible farming practices [that] underscores our commitment to the well-being of the environment, our community and future generations.” The four pillars of Guardians of Mountain Life are: preserving natural resources; mitigating climate impact; engaging Andean communities; and empowering employees. This program embraces such practices as regenerative and organic viticulture, conserving glacier water, supporting biodiversity, reducing the company’s carbon footprint from vineyard to winery and more sustainable packaging initiatives.
Laure Colombo keeping “les abeilles” (bees) at the Colombo family home in Cornas, Rhone Valley.
In France’s Rhône Valley, Jean-Luc Colombo, is giving a slight variation to the adage “what grows together, goes together.” To help support bee health and further occurrences of Colony Collapse Disorder, the winemaker had developed the Bee Helpful Program. Initially, the initiatives included eliminating the use of harsh pesticides and planting beneficial flora to support biodiversity in the vineyards and surrounds, and optimize pollination for bees. Now, a portion of sales from a line of wine labels called Les Abeilles, French for “the Bees,” will be directed to the UC-Davis Department of Entomology to support research in honeybee colony restoration. The two Côtes du Rhône—a white made from Clairette and rich Roussanne and a GSM blend, retail for about $18.99. So far more than $55,000 has support the program.
A new offering from the long-time organic wine producer
Founded more than 35 years ago, long-time environmental steward, Bonterra Organic Estates recently launched its estate Sauvignon Blanc, made from estate-grown ROC vines in Mendocino County, Calif., in response to the growing demand for ROC food and beverage products. Last year, according to company research, U.S. consumers spent $39M—a year-over-year increase of 39% from 2023. Bonterra Organic Estates’ vineyards and winery achieved ROC certification in 2021. The SB inaugural release will retail at $21.99, joining a legacy portfolio of wines produced exclusively from ROC grapes grown on the estate’s Mendocino County ranches. In a statement, Bonterra’s director of Regenerative Organic Development Joseph Brinkley called the program “farming in service of life.”
“The social component of the Regenerative Organic Certified program is particularly important, because it moves beyond understanding how to farm without exploiting the soil to understanding how to farm without exploiting people,” he says.
A percentage of Natura wine sales will benefit regenerative agricultural research and education
Banfi, has announced, in partnership with 1% For The Planet, that it will commit 1% of total U.S. Natura wine sales to to the environment. As a member of 1% for the Planet, Natura supports Rodale Institute, an organization working to help increase regenerative organic acreage through the US via research and education that enables farms and farmers to transition to regenerative organic agricultural practices. Natura’s producer is a worldwide leader in organic agriculture, certified B corp, and the first Chilean company to achieve regenerative organic certification. (SRP: $14.99).