Trending words like sustainable viticulture, eco-centric winemaking, biodynamic and organic wines, and that old chestnut, environmentally-friendly grape farming, are all sprinkled as liberally as compost on wine blogs, labels, and most recently, the LCBO Vintages Magazine.
They’re all part of a growing trend that looks at wine holistically, though of course, there’s also a certain amount of natural barnyard marketing here ;)
Regardless, it’s a good thing.
Sustainable viticulture can include everything from LEEDS-certified buildings like Stratus Vineyards in Niagara, which recycles gray water; to lighter bottles that meet the Lightweight Glass Wine Standard of 420 grams. Those wineries don’t comply are imposed with an extra recycling bottle fee.
The LCBO has recently introduced an organic wine symbol on liquor store shelves to help you spot those wines, as it has been doing in the Vintages Magazine for several years now. I’ve tagged organic wines in the database for those who want to buy them.
Featherstone Vineyard and Malivoire Winery in Niagara are excellent examples of organic and biodynamic viticulture at work, and the reason I profiled them in my second book, Unquenchable.
Malivoire uses gravity flow throughout the winery rather than pumping juice as well as 
friendly ladybugs to predate on vineyard pests. Featherstone “employs” adorable lamb-mowers to munch on excess grape leaves and grass that reduces their environmental hoof print.
Of course, Southbrook Vineyards is also a leader in biodynamic viticulure and grape farming.
It’s actually easy being green — and delicious! What’s the best organic or biodynamic wine you’ve tried lately?
