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We’re all becoming more conscious of the impact of our purchases, and that includes what we pour into our glasses. Many wineries and distilleries are leading the way, combining exceptional taste with sustainability and community support.
Joining us today is Natalie MacLean, who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com.
Welcome, Natalie.
Great to be back with you! I think of these wines and spirits as drinking with a conscience — we get to feel virtuous and tipsy at the same time.
That’s the best kind of indulgence. So, where are we starting?
For our first virtuous vino, we’re heading to the magnificent Italian Alps with Mezzacorona.
Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio
Alto Adige, Trentino, Italy
This winery is actually a cooperative of 1,600 families who live there and cultivate the vines.
This winery has not only reduced its use of synthetic chemicals, but it also has pioneered one of the most fascinating techniques to do this: sexual confusion – and I’m not referring to the winemakers but rather to insects that eat the grapes. Many of them depend on pheromones to find mates and food.
So, the winery introduces other natural substances into the vineyard that tell these predatory critters this bar isn’t open, keep flying.
Mezzacorona has also been a major supporter of the arts including film festivals, dance companies and museums.
Feel free to take a sniff or sip.
This Pinot Grigio is as crisp and fresh as the mountain air that surrounds it and the crystalline lakes that irrigate it with aromas of lime zest and lemon sunshine. I’d pair this with a dish I’d call a taste of the Italian Alps – freshly grilled fish seasoned with a squeeze of lemon, on a bed of mixed field greens and a dash of olive oil. The wine’s refreshing acidity cuts through the richness of the fish, while the citrusy notes complement the salad’s tang.
Fantastic pairing! Who’s next on our sustainable journey?
Now we’re off to southern France to visit Gérard Bertrand.
Gérard Bertrand Château l’Hospitalet Grand Vin Rouge
Languedoc, France
Gérard Bertrand converted all 17 of his estates to biodynamic farming over the past twenty years. This approach goes beyond organic and is rooted in a profound respect for nature, even factoring in the moon’s phases for planting and harvesting. It’s farming that’s deeply grounded while also reaching for the stars.
It’s very difficult and costly to achieve this certification, and Gérard Bertrand has become an international reference in biodynamic farming for other wineries wishing to adopt this environmentally respectful way of farming.
His estates are also bee friendly, another important aspect with the dramatic decline in the population of these vital cross-pollinators.
Feel free to take a sniff or sip.
This is a full-bodied, complex red with aromas of dark red fruit, smoke, and earthy spices. It’s a wine that wraps around you like a warm, smoky blanket. I’d pair this with French farmhouse decadence – a slow-roasted duck confit, the skin crisped and caramelized, served with buttery mashed potatoes and a drizzle of berry reduction sauce. The dark fruit in the wine dances with the richness of the duck, while the smokiness adds depth to every bite.
That sounds like the ultimate comfort pairing! And our next stop?
We’re flying over the Andes Mountains to Chile to visit the iconic winery Montes.
Montes Wings Carmenère
Colchagua Valley, Apalta D.O., Chile
Not only does it practice environmentally friendly viticulture, but the winery also supports educational programs for its employees, their children as well as members of the surrounding communities who don’t work for the winery, benefiting more than 1,600 students and teachers in the past two years alone.
They also offer the Angel’s Dream Workshop to teach employees and community members handcraft skills, so they have additional sources of income. The products are sold in the winery store and distributed worldwide through their importers. They’re not just cultivating grapes; they’re cultivating dreams and opportunities.
Feel free to take a sniff or sip.
The Montes Wings Carmenère is liquid silk with voluptuous aromas of dark plums and violets. I’d match it with a South American tango for your tstebuds – juicy grilled lamb chops marinated in spices, served alongside roasted root vegetables with a drizzle of chimichurri sauce. The lamb’s earthy notes bring out the wine’s dark fruit, while the chimichurri’s herbal brightness complements the floral violets in the glass.
That’s a pairing I’d love to try. And last but not least?
We’re heading down to Guyana to explore to explore El Dorado, one of the world’s most premium rums that also has the smallest environmental footprint.
El Dorado ensures that its entire process from raw materials to distilling to distribution respects the country’s delicate tropical environment that is home to more than 1200 species of animals.
Ed Dorado converts the liquid waste from the distilling process into energy that powers their distillery. The CO2 from fermentation is purified and used by other companies to carbonate soft drinks.
They also fund educational projects for young Guyanese, including those focused on the environment.
Feel free to take a sniff or sip.
El Dorado 12 Year Old Rum
Guyana
You’re tasting the El Dorado 12-Year-Old Rum which is pure decadence with aromas of caramelized toffee, molasses, and a hint of dark spice. I’d pair it with island delight – imagine jerk pork ribs caramelized on the grill, the sweetness of the meat mingling with smoky char, served with a side of grilled pineapple. The rum’s deep caramel tones balance perfectly with the sweet heat of the ribs. Tasting note? Mmmmmmm!
Most rums put the year of the oldest vintage in their blend. But El Dorado puts the youngest, so you’re tasting a rum that’s much more complex from blending vintages that are older than 12 years.
The El Dorado distillery has been making rum since the 17th century and has the world’s oldest stills, like their double wood and coffee wood stills. The blends have been perfected over hundreds of years and are still done in small batches. This is not factory-scale rum but rather a handcrafted, artisanal rum made from the finest demerara sugar.
Natalie, these suggestions are fantastic! Any final words of wisdom for our viewers?
Here’s to wine and spirits that nourish the earth as well as our souls.
Thank you, Natalie! Where can we find you and these wines and spirits online?
On Instagram, I’m at @NatalieMacLeanWine, and online, my website is nataliemaclean.com.
Posted with permission of Breakfast Television.
