With April being Earth Month, it’s the perfect time to get a lesson in environmentally-conscious wines.
Today we’re raising a glass to Mother Nature with Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes. Welcome, Natalie!
There are several ways that wine can be made in a more environmentally-conscious way. We’re going to focus on a few of them today, starting with vegan and vegetarian wine. Natalie, this is blowing my mind because I assumed all wine was vegan! What makes wine not vegan-friendly?
· It’s all in the clarifying—the removal of the particles which create cloudiness.
· Fining agents are added to the barrels of fermenting wine. As these settle through the liquid, they bond with particles and eventually float back to the top, where the vintner scoops them out.
· Traditionally the most commonly used fining agents were casein (a milk protein), albumin (egg whites), gelatin (animal protein) and isinglass (fish bladder protein). These fining agents are known as processing aids. They are not additives to the wine.
· As these settle through the liquid, they bond with particles and eventually float back to the top, where the vintner scoops them out.
· Fining with casein and albumin is usually acceptable by most vegetarians but all four are off limits for vegans because tiny traces of the fining agent may be absorbed into the wine during the fining process.
Tell us about the first vegan wine you have here.
This light, crisp Lillias Chardonnay is from Westcott Vineyards in Niagara. Westcott doesn’t use any animal products in making its wines.
Westcott Vineyards Lillias Chardonnay
Niagara Escarpment, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada
This chardonnay is packed with mouth-watering notes of golden apple, pear and honeycomb. It has a long, sustained finish with balanced acidity.
What is the second vegan wine you have for us?
Michel Chapoutier Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Côtes du Roussillon-Villages is a delicious, robust blend of red grapes from southern France.
M. Chapoutier Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Côtes-du-Roussillon-Villages
Côtes du Roussillon-Villages, Midi A.C., France
One tip to help you find vegan and vegetarian wines in the liquor store is to look for the words “unfiltered” and “unfined” label.
Let’s move on to our next category which is organic wine. What makes it organic?
Making wine is a two-step process: first you grow the grapes and then you make the wine. That means there’s a difference between wine from “organically grown grapes” and “organic wine.” Grapes that are organically grown must have no synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides or fungicides used on them. An organic wine takes the no synthetic chemical use a step further. It means that not only were the grapes grown organically, but the wine itself was then made in the winery with no synthetic additives and agents.
This is better for the environment because they don’t use synthetic chemicals that can pollute local reservoirs of water and harm wildlife. Instead, they use treatments that are naturally derived, such as fertilizers made from pomace, the solid material left over from winemaking. This is also better for the people who work in vineyards and wineries, who don’t have to be exposed to harmful chemicals.
Organic wines represent one of the fastest growing categories in the liquor store. Easy accessibility to consumers, variety of flavors & affordability are contributing factors making organic wine market grow.
The first organic wine you brought for us today is a Rosé. Tell us about this while we sip.
Adobe Reserva Organic Rosé is a light, vibrant wine from Chile with notes of field strawberries and watermelon.
Emiliana Adobe Reserva Rosé
Casablanca Valley, Chile
I should note that organic wines don’t taste different from non-organic – it’s the quality of winemaking that still matters most.
You’ll note there’s a symbol on the back label indicating it’s been certified organic. This wine is also vegan.
You also have an organic Sauvignon Blanc for us to try.
Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc is from the cool-climate region of Marlborough in New Zealand.
Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand
It offers notes of fresh lime and grapefruit.
There’s another classification called biodynamic so what’s the difference between organic and biodynamic wine?
Biodynamic viticulture takes organic farming a step farther. It focuses on the link between the cosmos and the plant’s health and uses minute quantities of homeopathic-style preparations, such as chamomile tea, to encourage plants to heal themselves and thrive.
There are also natural wines so what are those?
The definition of natural wine varies among winemakers and there’s no a legal classification, but essentially the vintner is trying to make wine with as little intervention as possible. Many natural wines follow organic principles, but not all natural wine is not necessarily organic. It usually isn’t fined or filtered so it can have a cloudy appearance.
Our final category is wines that are made with sustainable farming practices. What does this mean?
Sustainable farming tries to minimize the use of synthetic chemicals and the winery’s impact on the environment. They also attempt to be more efficient in their use of all resources, including water and energy, and to use recycled and non-polluting materials wherever possible.
How is this different from organic wine?
While sustainable farming often incorporates organic principles, it is not organic, nor are there any legal requirements.
Tell us about your first sustainably farmed wine.
The Syrah from Hester Creek in BC’s Okanagan Valley is smooth, robust and complex with notes of black plum and pepper.
Hester Creek Estate Winery Syrah
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia BC V.Q.A., Canada
The winery irrigates their vines with recycled water. Once harvest is finished, they compost the grape skins back into the soil. The temperature of the winery is regulated by an earthen roof full of local flora and beehives, the honey from which the winery restaurant’s chef Chef Adair uses as honey for Sunday brunch.
We’ve come to our final wine. Tell us about this Cabernet Sauvignon.
Benziger Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon is a full-bodied red wine with luscious notes of blackcurrant and blackberry.
Benziger Cabernet Sauvignon
Sonoma County, California, United States
Benziger was one of the early pioneers of sustainable farming in California 35 years ago. Today, sheep, cows, birds and butterflies roam its vineyards creating a vibrant ecosystem.
You say another way we can be more environmentally-conscious is through our travel this summer.
Absolutely! It’s not just about buying locally for the sake of our planet, but visiting local wineries and supporting them with your travel dollars also helps to minimize your impact on the planet.
Thank you, Natalie, for sharing all of these eco-friendly wines for Earth Month with us! Cheers to our beautiful planet!
Posted with permission of CTV.
