As farmers at heart, winemakers have been at the forefront of the battle against climate change for years. Their reverence for the land led the wine industry to embrace changing practices that make crafting wine better for the planet and better for the people. This Earth Day raise a glass with one of these three organic wines I recently tried.
Tablas Creek
Esprit 2021
To celebrate Earth Day, it’s hard to beat picking a wine from Tablas Creek, the first vineyard in the world to become Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC). The Paso Robles winery achieved this accomplishment in 2020 and in 2022 became the first ROC Gold Certified winery.
To earn this certification, a winery must farm sustainably and organically, as well as meet benchmarks for how it interacts with the community, treats its animals and compensates its workers. When you drink a bottle of any Tablas Creek wine you can rest assured that the entire holistic ecosystem was treated right.
The 2021 Tablas Creek Esprit is the winery’s flagship red blend. Consider it a GSM on steroids. Sourced from the best estate-grown grapes for each varietal, Esprit has Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, but also Counoise, Vaccarese and Cinsault. It’s dripping in flavors like cocoa, spice, leather, and smoke. The wine has a tannic structure that will allow for aging, but enough finesse to drink now.
Domaine Bousquet
Cameleon Chardonnay 2022
For 25 years Domaine Bousquet in the Tupungato Valley of Mendoza, has blazed the organic farming torch in Argentina. The winery is the first in Argentina to achieve Regenerative Organic Certification. It also holds B Corp certification.
The winery’s Cameleon line is an ode to the family’s history of leaving France and searching for the just-right growing region in Argentina. The 2022 Cameleon Chardonnay is a 100% unoaked Chardonnay that has the crisp acidity experienced when biting into a green apple. It’s fresh and bright and because of that could work with an aperitif or appetizer course, but thanks to its medium body can also hold up to more substantial food.
Red wine lovers should also try the line’s Cabernet Sauvignon, which features 85% Cabernet Sauvignon with 15% Malbec. The 2022 received a 92 from James Suckling.
Danaus Red Blend 2022
Danaus Red Blend by Costers Del Sio is an approachable red blend featuring the popular Spanish varietals Tempranillo and Garnacha with a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon. Made with organic grapes the wine has a beautiful red-purplish hue and notes of red fruits, florals and woodsy scents. With medium body and a bit of acidity, it works well with a wide range of foods. It’s $13 price point makes it a great buy for red wine lovers.
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