Sustainable Wine Growing

Well, since last night I've had a chance to search the Parducci winery online (http://www.parducci.com/), and it looks like this wine grower really does run a sustainable operation! They mention everything from the inks used on the labels, reducing the use of fossil fuels, to a strategic plan for reducing its carbon footprint and battling climate change. A simple google search for wine growing practices and the environmental impact of growing wine revealed that LOTS of water is used in growing wine, and it's really helpful if the water can be recycled. ative environmental impacts of wine dustry include the carbon footprint creaed by transportation, as well as the packaging. Another quick internet search showed that Frog's Leap wine, in California rates the highest in "green" ratings. When you think about it, growing grapes takes up lots of land, and the ultimate result of wine production creates a product that uses packaging including glass bottles and foils. Most of the time these bottles are added to the trash heap. Truthfully, I never really thought about the impact of producing wine... after discovering Parducci it really makes me think about this so much more! This wine grower really does practice being "sustainable"! I can't wait to try their other wines and visit this winery, and I'm also going to be more conscientious about the wines I buy and will look for more wines grown closer to home so as to reduce my wine carbon footprint!

Finally, The Wine!

OK- so this blog is called "The Wine Sisters Book Club" and so far my posts have been about books, so you might ask what about the wine? Tonight I'm in Atlanta getting ready for 4 days of intense conference gatherings and session attending! I picked up one of those small (meant as wine for 2 glasses) bottles of Parducci Chardonnay Vintage 2008 from the Mendocino, CA vinyards. From the label I see that this is a "family owned" label with a "sustainable winegrowing" mark on the label. Not sure what that means... The back of the label lists the qualities that, I guess, explain what sustainable winegrowing is. The list includes * locally owned and operated; * grapes from family farms; * sustainable farming practices; * 100% green power; * earth friendly packaging; and * carbon neutral. OK- all noble I'm sure but the wine still comes in a bottle with a metal screw cap (to make it user friendly for hotel guests), so by my count it still contributes to the waste system, right?

I really don't know a thing about wines except there are reds and there are whites. Some are heavy and some are light. Then there is the dry factor, and I'm finding that I like dry wines over sweeter ones.

OK- now for the taste test-- nice aroma... I sense a touch of sweetness in this chardonnay and I'm not sure that I like it. However, it will not go to waste!