Your Guide to Organic, Biodynamic and Natural Wine
Trousseau is a grape unique to the Jura that Lyle describes as a mutant Pinot Noir. What can a wine and skywriting have in common? Watch our review of Domain de la Tournelle Trousseau Des Corvees 2007 to find out.
The 2010 harvest will mark DeLoach Vineyards’ 35th vintage in the Russian River Valley, and will be the first harvest from its estate vineyards since achieving certification for organic and Biodynamic® farming practices in 2008 and 2009, respectively. To celebrate this milestone and commitment to sustainable farming, DeLoach, in partnership with Rodale Inc.’s Organic Gardening magazine, is offering the chance to win a weekend getaway at the winery’s private guesthouse retreat. The sweepstakes runs now through November 9th, 2010. Consumers can enter to win (it is free to enter, and no purchase is required), and learn more about DeLoach and its commitment to sustainable winegrowing, at www.organicgardening.com/sonomasweeps.
Free airfare for two, gourmet meals prepared by the DeLoach chef, and a VIP tour of the DeLoach winery and its highly-acclaimed portfolio of small-production, vineyard-designate wines are but accoutrements to the opportunity to learn about Biodynamic® winegrowing from one of the Russian River Valley’s pioneering producers of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Zinfandel. Sweepstakes winners will arrive at DeLoach with perhaps an appreciation for wine and a need for a vacation, but will leave well-rested, well-fed, and with a greater understanding of responsible, sustainable farming methods and their effects on both the wine world and the environment as a whole. DeLoach is part of a small community of like-minded wineries that have made the commitment to seek Demeter certification for Biodynamic farming practices. Currently, there are just sixty-eight wineries and vineyards in the U.S. that have or are seeking Demeter Biodynamic® certification.
About DeLoach Vineyards
DeLoach Vineyards has been a pioneering producer of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Zinfandel in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley since 1975. DeLoach seeks to produce exceptional wines that spotlight the singular personality of the Russian River Valley, with its rare and bountiful convergence of the sea, the soil and the stars. The Boisset family of Burgundy purchased DeLoach in 2003, bringing the techniques and approaches of Burgundy to the Russian River Valley, which they believed to be California’s most expressive terroir for cultivating Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Under Boisset, DeLoach has grown its small-lot vineyard designate wine program, converted to organic and Biodynamic® farming practices, and implemented traditional Burgundian winemaking techniques such as open-top wood fermentors, native yeast fermentations, and hand punch-downs. Wine & Spirits magazine named DeLoach Vineyards a Top 100 Winery for the tenth time in the winery’s history in 2009. Located at 1791 Olivet Road in Santa Rosa, the DeLoach Vineyards tasting room, picnic area and organic garden are open to the public daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.deloachvineyards.com.
About Organic Gardening
For 70 years, Rodale’s Organic Gardening, the leading magazine resource for living a healthier, more environmentally conscious lifestyle, has been empowering its readers with the most trusted, eco-friendly news and information. With the mission to “work in harmony with nature,” its editorial landscape leads the charge toward a sustainable future, delivering the safest and most natural approach to health, home, food and garden. In 2009, the magazine experienced double-digit gains in ad sales, newsstand sales and total circulation, further reinforcing the power and growing vitality of the green movement. In 2010, Organic Gardening earned the #8 spot on AdWeek’s prestigious “Hot List: 10 Under 60.”
Lyle has more fun drinking the wine than trying to pronounce it. Watch this review of a “cerebral” Binner Muscat ça Gazouille 2008.
Wine blogger Cory Cartwright, who works at the fantastic Terroir in San Francisco, has kicked off his 32 Days Of Natural Wine at his site Saignée. Along with Cory, guest writers will include Joe Dressner, Alice Feiring and our own OWJ writers Lyle Fass and Amy Atwood. It’s a great way to find out about wines, and wine writers, that are a little off most people’s radar. This is a follow up to Cory’s project last year, 31 Days Of Natural Wine. We’re glad he’s added a day – these wines are too good to be confined to just one month.
Lyle loves Binner wines and he loves Riesling. So is this Binner Riesling Cuvee K 2007 a sure thing? Watch the review and find out.
Lyle Fass thinks the Jura is “wine geek paradise.” It’s also where you can find some of the best value Chardonnays in the world. Check out his review of Domaine de la Tournelle Terre De Gryphees 2004.
From Decanter.com:
The European Union has rejected a proposal to create an organic wine category, despite regulation being ‘urgently needed’.
‘Organic’ wine producers in Europe can only state their wine is made from organically-grown grapes and politicians have been debating the introduction of an organic wine category.
Read the full story.
There are probably more biodynamic producers per square foot in Alsace than anywhere else. Cremant d’Alsace is their entry into the sparkling wine world and this is Lyle’s take on the Binner Cremant d’Alsace Extra Brut 2005. He also shows you how to open a sparkling wine bottle with confidence.
