5 Sustainable Wineries in the US for a Guilt-Free Meal and Wine Pairing

Pairing wine with a meal takes some special skill and a good taste in wine, but with more sustainable wineries joining the markets, it is easier to make a choice.

Sustainable Wineries

Sustainable wineries focus on more than just using organic pesticides to keep bugs away.

They maintain the local ecosystem, use composting, collaborate with regional suppliers, save energy, and provide activities without connectivity.

Each of these wineries takes this mission very seriously, striving to produce the best wines while also showing reverence for the land they use to grow their grapes.

These wineries rely on organic improvements to their vintages, and their wines are sold in shops all over the world.

1. Hiyu Wine Farm in Hood River, Oregon

This environmentally friendly winery, which is 22 miles from Mount Hood, grows its grapes using organic and biodynamic practices.

It is a real farm, and the animals there assist in land management by eating the grass and making compost.

In addition to wine, this rustic winery offers tastings of a variety of locally sourced foods, ranging from snacks to family-style dinners, Newsweek reported.

2. Macari Vineyards in Mattituck, New York

Macari Vineyards has been in business for 27 years and has never employed chemical herbicides.

The company enriches the soil and conserves water by producing its own compost and not irrigation for its vines.

Macari Vineyards recently collaborated with Christopher Gobler, a Stony Brook University professor, to add locally sourced kelp to their compost, according to Gabriella Macari, the Macari Vineyards general manager.

According to Macari, kelp restores the ecosystem by removing phosphorus and nitrogen from the sea.

It functions as a natural fertilizer that helps restore the soil and vines when added to compost, Wine Enthusiast reported.

Macari views sustainability as requiring ongoing innovation.

The entire team is constantly considering how they could perform better. The group is researching reusable glass, solar energy, and tank insulation.

Even though it is an ongoing process, Macari and her team are pleased with their progress to date.

3. Matthiasson in Napa Valley, California

Winemaker Steve Matthiasson prioritizes employee wellness in addition to environmental goals like establishing native California grasses, reducing water use, and pursuing healthy soil.

Matthiasson, unlike many other wineries, hires vineyard workers year-round, provides health insurance, hosts internships, and offers educational opportunities, according to Wine Enthusiast.

4. Cono Sur in San Antonio Valley, California

Cono Sur has been a well-liked option for environmentally friendly wine for not less than ten years, if not longer.

This CarbonNeutral® wine is easily recognized thanks to the distinctive bicycle logo, and the company is dedicated to worker rights, a healthy and secure workplace, and a greener method of producing wine.

According to LeafScore, Cono Sur, which currently oversees organic vineyards of more than 300 hectares, became the first winery in the entire globe to be certified as CarbonNeutral® in 2007.

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5. Wölffer Estate Vineyard in Long Island, New York

As a founding member of Long Island Sustainable Winegrowing (LISW), Wölffer Estate Vineyard provides educational resources and certifies Long Island vineyards.

Wölffer Estate Vineyard implemented a thorough checklist of about 200 sustainable grape-growing practices, including vineyard planning, banning specific materials and practices, and many ecological management techniques, to receive sustainable farming certification.

According to Just Energy, Wölffer Estate Vineyard uses a variety of techniques, such as integrated pest management for insects, soil management to prevent runoff and leaching, and many others.

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