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Drink eco-friendly wine

All Practically Green: 231 or so people have DONE this action so far.

All Practically Green: 186 or so people have ADDED this to their action plan so far.

Why is "Drink eco-friendly wine" green?

You just want a glass of wine, but hang on. Before you sip, there are a few things to consider for you and the environment: farming practices, how the wine is made, and the impact of transporting the resulting bottles. Your taste buds will thank you; some of the most delicious wines are all natural.

First up, you want to reduce chemical pesticide and fertilizer exposure--for you, the earth, and the winemaker. Organic is one option; for a wine to sport a USDA Certified Organic seal it must be made from organically grown grapes and not have any added sulfites. Many winemakers feel sulfites are critical to winemaking, so they forgo the seal, and make wines with certified organic grapes and added sulfites. There are also winemakers who follow organic or even biodynamic practices, but aren’t certified due to cost or other complexities. These are all good choices.

Next, consider how that bottle gets to you. Transporting wine consumes significant energy. According to a 2007 study called "Red, White and Green," the global gas emissions from wine production and distribution were 5,336,600 tons, which is equivalent to the emissions of roughly 1,000,000 passenger vehicles over a year. If there is good un- or low-sprayed wine made near you, drink it.

How to: Drink eco-friendly wine

Buy from small, organic or biodynamic, local wineries. Taste and ask questions about growing and producing practices.

Seek out wine shops with knowledgeable staff interested in small production natural vineyards. Ask questions about the winemakers and their growing procedures to find eco-friendliest wines.

Cheers.

  • The Organic Wine Company
    • (0 Ratings)

    Wines from France and Italy including red, white, sparkling, biodynamic, and even vegan--all certified organic.

  • OrganicWineFind.com
    • (0 Ratings)

    This organic wine directory contains 700 of the top organic and biodynamic vineyards in the world, and helps you find their wines locally. Very helpful!

  • Y+B
    • (0 Ratings)

    This certified organic wine comes from grapes grown without chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. They say they use natural, sustainable processes in their vineyards.

  • Parducci Wine Cellars
    • (1 Rating)

    This Mendocino County vineyard is green to the core. Not only were they recognized as the first carbon neutral winery in the country--bravo--but also, 75 percent of the grapes used in their wines are certified biodynamic, organic or Fish Friendly Farming®. And all at an affordable price. That's worth a toast!

  • Alex Elman Wines
    • (1 Rating)

    Wine connoisseur Alex Elman's inaugural collection of affordable organic wines includes a chardonnay, a torrontés, a cabernet sauvignon and a malbec--all from Argentina. According the the labels, each varietal is hand-crafted and sustainable.