The Green Party
When it comes to food, “going green” is a familiar concept. We stock our shelves with organic products and buy seasonal, sustainable produce at farmers’ markets. Though winemakers are now jumping on the green bandwagon—some even proclaiming that the more intensive methods required by sustainable and organic farming produce better, more nuanced fruit—for many consumers organic wines are still largely unexplored territory. Bringing together fellow wine geeks for an all-organic tasting party is a great way to discover the array of earth-friendly options out there. Here are some suggestions to get things started.

The Wine
The most obvious candidates for your tasting party are bottles labeled “organic,” “biodynamic” or “sustainable.” The standards for these certificates are usually designated by bodies like the U.S.D.A. or private organizations like Demeter and LIVE. In brief, “organic” usually indicates that the product is grown without using complex man-made chemicals, particularly artificial fertilizers and pesticides...

Bear in mind though that just because a certain wine lacks any certification, it may still be eligible for a green wine party roster. Many smaller, family-run wineries, particularly those in isolated areas of Europe, are often inherently green in method: they use rich, natural fertilizer as well as age-old techniques like crop rotation. They also maintain balanced ecosystems with farm animals rather than the more pricy pesticides and herbicides common among larger producers. Often, Spanish wines are a good bet as the Martian-like terrain in many growing areas there, particularly those for old vines, eliminates the need for these chemicals altogether.

Some Green Wineries From Around the World
U.S.
Bethel Heights
Their Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes are grown sustainably on the southern end of Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

Bucklin
Zinfandel from Bucklin’s organic Old Hill Ranch, one of the oldest Zinfandel vineyards in the U.S., is considered a poster child for Sonoma’s terrior.

Clos Mimi
Long known for producing high-quality Syrah, Clos Mimi solely works with biodynamic, small family-run vineyards in Paso Robles and Santa Ynez. Here the winemaker has been implementing Maria Thun's "Biodynamic Sowing and Planting Calendar" since the 2003 harvest.

Saracina
An organic winery located in Mendocino, often dubbed California’s greenest county. All Saracina wines are varietal-specific though the winemakers also make several blends for the Atrea brand, including the particularly palatable, white Rhône-style blend, Atrea The Choir.

Spain
Finca Luzon
At Finca Luzon’s old-vine vineyards in Jumilla, no pesticides are needed as no vine-damaging organisms thrive in the region's stark terrain.

Italy
Badia a Coltibuono
An organic Tuscan winery established in the 11th century by monks.

France
Louis Latour
This esteemed Burgundian négociant-éléveur produces Pinot and Chardonnay from sustainably-grown grapes.

Vanessa Chang and Dara Newman
Wine Enthusiast Magazine
April 2009
www.winemag.com