Need a Refresher? 3 Sustainable White Wines to Cool Your Heels
My heartbeat goes nuts at the sight of green leaves and red tulips. These vividly beautiful, telltale visual cues always prime my palate for spring salads, and refreshing sustainable white wines.
In recent years, the organic, biodynamic and sustainable wine industry has enjoyed a bump in popularity. An increasing number of family-owned wineries are embracing environmental practices.
As many of our West Coast readers know, California is filled with sustainable wine producers and acreage — more than two-thirds of the state’s wine production and land is certified as sustainable! To celebrate those forward-thinking California winemakers, we felt it appropriate to highlight three stellar California white wines.
Robert Sinskey Vineyards
Napa, CA, 6320 Silverado Trail, 707-944-9090
Robert Sinskey is a native Californian. Sinskey fell in love with wine making many years ago while assisting his father at the family’s fledgling wine business:
“Over the past twenty-five years he {Sinskey} has grown his 100% organic and biodynamic certified wine growing operation to over 200 acres of premium vineyards in the Carneros and Stags Leap districts of Napa and Sonoma Valleys.” Robert Sinskey Vineyards
Pinot Gris (Los Carneros, 2010): melon, ginger-spiced pear, and apple aromas transform to vibrant floral and almond-hinted flavors. $28 per bottle.
Parducci Winery
501 Parducci Road, 707-463-5357, main office
This Mendocino County farm is locally owned and operated, and uses sustainable wine growing practices including earth-friendly packaging. Parducci uses grapes from local family farms and was the first carbon neutral winery in the United States.
2010 Parducci Sustainable White blend (2010): this medium-bodied white wine blend has a crisp taste. Enjoy the subtle, but bright, citrus and melon flavors. $10.99 per bottle.
Bonterra Organic Vineyards
Mendocino County, CA
Bonterra was one of the first California wineries to commit to organic and sustainable wine growing. The vineyard also makes biodynamic wine.
Bonterra’s Chardonnay (2010): this fresh tasting wine is filled with unique flavors: “our organic fruit from Mendocino offers the characteristic flavors of green and baked apples, pears, and citrus…”
Resources:
http://www.sustainablewinegrowing.org/aboutswp.php
http://www.forbes.com/sites/katiebell/2012/04/20/organic-wines-for-earth-day/
http://www.organicwinejournal.com/
http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/latest/best-organic-white-wines-0708#fbIndex1
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/17/wine-natural-idUSL2E8F9FU420120417
Image: basheertome
