Green Wines for Thanksgiving
There is so much wine in the world, but only a few can be categorized as Organic and Biodynamic. Fortunately, many wines of the Old World are beginning to produce with greater consideration given towards Ecological Consciousness.
Organic wine follows the rules laid out by a particular country of the wines origin. In the United States, Organic produce is certified by the USDA while other countries might have stricter governing bodies to decide what makes a wine worthy of Organic Certification. Biodynamic wines are produced with a concentration on treating an enire area as a single entity. For wine producers operating Biodynamically, the grape vine is treated as part of a greater ecosystem with bees, olives, and livestock raised in joint concentration.
Let’s take a look at some awesome wines that will take care of the planet while keeping a budget.
Albet i Noya, “Petit Albet Brut Rose”: Coming from DO Penedes in Catalonia, this wine represents a higher classification of the traditional Cava. Wines bearing the DO Penedes labeling spend a minimum 15 months of lees aging in comparison to the 9 months of traditional Cava. All Penedes sparkling wine is also required to be produced using Organic Grapes. I always love pairing sparkling wines with cheese and charcuterie, this wine has wonderful flavors of apple, ripe raspberry, and toasted brioche. This wine is both Vegan and Certified Organic.
La Boutanche, Riesling: Produced by 4th generation wine maker Andi Knauss, this is a fantastic expression of Organic Riesling from Germany’s Swabia region. A dry Riesling, this wine has flavors of apricot and lemon with bright acidity that pairs perfectly with the lighter fare of Thanksgiving sides. This wine is Vegan and produced using Organic methods.
Vina Echeverria, “No Es Pituko” Chardonnay: Grown Organically in Chile’s Curico Valley, this wine’s name literally means It Ain’t Fancy. Unfined and unfiltered, this wine is made only using what is natural. The Chardonnay grapes undergo a spontaneous fermentation with the yeasts that grow naturally on grapeskins in the vineyard. A period of lees aging in stainless steel gives this wine a nice brioche driven quality. This is a natural wine using sustainable vineyard practices.
Chateau de Trinquevedel, Tavel: Tavel, in France’s Rhone Valley is one of the most famous appellations in the world when it comes to rose. Producing a denser, more complex rose using the bleeding or saignee method where Grenache grapes are left to macerate in the wine for a period of 12 to 48 hours. This wine has flavors of raspberry, strawberry, watermelon, and orange blossoms with a fuller body designed to stand alongside food. This wine is produced using certified sustainable agriculture.
Domaine Laurent Gauthier, Morgon “Grand Cras”: One of the best wines to pair with food has to be Gamay from the Beaujolais region. Produced using a method known as carbonic maceration, these wines are fruit forward with bright and aromatic flavors. This wine comes from the Cru of Morgon and is produced using Biodynamic and Vegan practices.
Luberri, “Florus de Luberri”: Rioja is the land of Tempranillo, a bright and full flavored wine with a delectable spicy finish. This wine belongs to Rioja’s youngest category of production, Cosecha, and is sees its aging in clay amphorae rather than the traditional oak barrels of the region. An easy drinking wine with flavors of blackberry, cherry, and a hint of black pepper, this is a perfect wine to match with a honey baked ham. This wine is produced Biodynamically and is Vegan.
Fattoria la Vialla “Vin Santo”: Made using late harvest grapes of Sangiovese in the Chianti Classico region of Tuscany, the “Wine of the Saints” is one of the most famous dessert wines in the world. With flavors of honey, vanilla, and pipe tobacco, this is an absolute treat to pair with Thanksgiving sweets. This is a Demeter certified Biodynamic producer that is also certified Organic by the Italian state.
Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
