“Sustainable” has been attracting attention in recent years. It is a word that has become a keyword in every industry. Wine is no exception. This time, we will introduce sustainability in winemaking, as well as producers and wines that are working on sustainable initiatives.
What is sustainable?
Sustainable means ``sustainable'' and refers to a system that can be continued in the future, and means that activities can be maintained without negatively impacting the natural environment and resources. Its meaning is far-reaching. It goes beyond "eco-friendly" to consider the environment, and also includes environmental considerations such as economic growth and human health and welfare.
At the United Nations Summit in 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted. It has 17 goals and requires people to take action to achieve them.
The difference between sustainable, organic, biodynamic, and natural
How is sustainable in winemaking different from organic, biodynamic, and natural?
Organic is a farming method that excludes chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides. Biodynamic is a farming method that goes a step further than organic, cultivating based on the movement of celestial bodies and using natural preparations. Moreover, the traditional style of winemaking is natural, with as little human intervention as possible during brewing. In other words, organic, biodynamic, and natural focus on cultivation and brewing.
Sustainable winemaking has some overlap with organic, biodynamic, and natural, but they are not the same. Sustainable means looking at winemaking as a whole. These include improving the efficiency of water and energy used in winemaking, waste management, maintaining healthy soils and biodiversity, good employer-employee relations, business growth, and high quality. grapes and wine.
Winemaking sustainability
Rapidly progressing global warming is also a serious problem for winemaking. Warming temperatures are already speeding up grape growth. There is also a growing sense of crisis that as global warming progresses, it may no longer be possible to grow grape varieties that were previously suitable for the region.
In order to prevent global warming, it is important to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Use electric tractors and horses to till fields, use solar power to power your fields, and purify and reuse water.
When growing grapes, we do not use chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or insecticides, but instead spray plant-based products or plant plants between the ridges to adjust the soil's fertility and moisture content.
In addition, we will maintain biodiversity by planting not only grapes but also other plants such as herbs and vegetables on the premises to be environmentally friendly.
Another sustainable approach to winemaking is to employ local residents in order to revitalize the local economy.
sustainable wine
Did you understand that sustainability is more than just cultivation and brewing that are kind to the earth, such as organic cultivation or biodynamic farming? Next, we will introduce sustainable wine producers and wines.
Domaine Leflaive / Macon Verzet
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Domaine Leflaive is a prestigious family in Puligny-Montrachet, located in the Burgundy region of France, which produces some of the world's best white wines. We practice biodynamics in all of our fields. He began organic cultivation in the 1990s, when organic farming was not yet widespread, and became a pioneer of biodynamic Burgundy.
Domaine Leflaive is not only biodynamic, but also sustainable. For example, the warehouse does not use air conditioning because clay bricks are used to block outside temperature and maintain humidity.
This Macon Verzet is 100% Chardonnay made from Macon in the Maconne region. This is a white wine with excellent cost performance and a taste comparable to that of high-end cuvées.
It has a refreshing yet rich flavor with ripe pear and apple aromas and a mineral feel.
Conosle / Organic Chardonnay
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Conosul is one of Chile's leading wineries, established in 1993. The etiquette with a bicycle drawn on it expresses Konosul's "commitment to the environment." Specific initiatives include natural pest control systems, organic farming practices, and certified carbon neutral delivery status. Carbon-neutral delivery status means that the carbon dioxide emitted during the transportation of products is offset through the purchase of carbon bonds, an international project.
Konosul's ``Organic'' series is a wine made using 100% organically grown grapes certified by Ecocert (International Organic Certification Agency). This "Chardonnay" is a white wine with a flavor full of fresh fruit aromas. It has a freshness with aromas of citrus fruits and minerals derived from the soil. Acidity is good and balanced. It goes very well with all fish dishes and vegetable dishes.
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Also a wine from Konosul's organic series. It has a deep and full-bodied flavor with aromas of plum and berry fruit, and hints of nuts and chocolate. It goes well with all meat dishes, especially steak and confit.
La Crema / Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
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La Crema is a winery founded in 1979 on California's Sonoma Coast. La Crema, which was founded by winemaking genius Greg La Follette, has a track record of winning the ``Winery of the Year'' award from the American wine magazine ``Wine Enthusiast''.
At La Crema, we are committed to sustainable practices such as protecting animals and using solar energy.
The Sonoma Coast has a cool climate and is known for producing delicate wines that rival Burgundy wines. La Crema creates wines that fully express the terroir of the Sonoma Coast.
The reason for La Crema's popularity is that you can enjoy such carefully selected wines at relatively reasonable prices.
This wine has aromas of citrus fruits such as lemon, pear, and hints of vanilla, giving it an exotic flavor. This wine goes well not only with seafood dishes, but also with chicken and pork.
La Crema / Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
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Also wine from La Crema. This ``Pinot Noir'' has layers of gorgeous aromas such as ripe cherry, pomegranate, cocoa, and black tea. A juicy mouthfeel with pleasant tannins and balanced acidity. It has an elegant taste with a concentrated feeling and a lingering finish. It goes well with a wide range of dishes, especially with roasted meats.
summary
At a time when sustainable wine is attracting attention, choosing sustainable wine is for the sake of our beautiful planet, and it means sharing and supporting a philosophy of winemaking that can be passed down to the next generation. Please think about the future and choose sustainable wine for nature, flora, fauna, the environment, and us humans.
