Over the last several years I have become somewhat obsessed with the wine industry here in Ontario and also in other parts of North America. I not only love to partake in their product, but I am also very impressed with efforts that have been made by a number of wineries to make their winemaking more sustainable. This green shift has occurred over the entire life cycle of the wine, including the sourcing of input materials (barrels, bottles, closures), the vineyard management, the wine production, and the delivery of the finished product.

The May/June 2008 issue of Vineyard and Winery Management has an article called “Going Green”. The first page of this article pictures a bottle of 2006 Pinot Noir by California’s Parducci Winery. Parducci is the first carbon neutral winery in the United States. They accomplished carbon neutrality by implementing a series of actions to reduce their carbon footprint including a solar energy installation, an energy audit, use of biodiesel in vehicles and equipment, conversion to fluorescent lighting, and planting of trees. Parducci purchased carbon offset credits from a reputable retailer for the remainder of their footprint that could not be eliminated.

Carbon neutrality is not the only way that a winery can be green. Here is a list of just a few of the wineries in Canada and New York State that are practicing sustainable, organic, or biodynamic winemaking:

Ontario

Flatrock Cellars, Tawse Winery, Henry of Pelham Family Estate, Frogpond Farm, Southbrook Vineyards, Stratus Vineyards

New York

Red Tail Ridge Winery, Atwater Estate Vineyards, Four Chimneys Organic Winery, Silver Thread Vineyard, Imagine Moore Winery

BC

Painted Turtle, Tinhorn Creek Vineyards, Summerhill Pyramid Winery, Burrowing Owl Estate Winery

Sometime soon I’ll post a follow-up list of wineries in California, Oregon, and Washington that are green. It will be a long list because these wine regions have emerged as leaders in sustainability, thanks to efforts by groups like the California Sustainable Winemaking Alliance and Oregon’s Carbon Neutral Challenge. This is very good news for those of us that want to drink green.