THESKINI.COM

March 2006

Sustainable Viticulture

by Martina Priadka

Opening a wine list at any restaurant or perusing the shelves of your local wine shop is a fun task. You can always choose your old favorites, get some help from the staff for a fun new find or go with the "wild card" and grab something completely new and different and see what happens.

So many things come to mind while you are choosing. A gift might bring to mind the favorite of the receiver or you might think about what is going to go best with the curry you are making later but more than likely the average consumer is not thinking, "hmm, I wonder if this vineyard uses sustainable viticulture in it's growing practice."

Although there are many different definitions of sustainable viticulture they all follow the same basic philosophy, which includes practices that, over the long term, enhance environmental quality and resources on which agriculture depends. This uses what is needed now without destroying or overusing what will be needed to sustain future generations. It means that in farming, basic human food needs are provided for in an economically viable way but also enhances the quality of life for the workers and the community as a whole. This can sound a little complicated but what it boils down to is fertile soil, healthy product and a profitable farming community.

Sustainable viticulture may or may not include organic or biodynamic practices, both of which can be done with or without sustainable viticultural practices. Basic organic farming limits the use of synthetic chemicals and in wine can go as far as limiting natural components such as tartaric acid replacing it with lemon juice as long as the lemons are grown organically. Biodynamic farming utilizes organic practices along with planting methods that follow the natural celestial cycle to increase healthy growth.

Many vineyards around the world use sustainable viticultural practices, the goal is to enhancing the overall soil fertility. Ploughing and driving tractors over wet soil is limited in order to decrease the loss of structure. Green cover crops are used, as are copper and sulphur sprays for fungus control and natural oils for pest control. Introducing natural pest predators as in organic farming is also used.

But in our busy daily routine it is easy to forget about things that do not specifically affect our immediate life. If it is easy then we will do it but if it takes some additional research than most of the time we just let it slide.

When it comes to wine many of the vineyards are doing the work for us. All you have to do is remember a few names and you can enjoy great wine grown under sustainable viticultural practices and not have to do any of the research. Below are some names to look for to get you started and they may already be some of your favorites.

Bogle, CA. Kathryn Kennedy, CA. M. Chapoutier, France. Pepper Bridge, Australia.

Raveswood, CA. Stevenot, CA Turley, CA

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