Inspiring Eco-Friendly Winemaking Practices

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Written by Maryse Chevriere, The Daily Meal

Options abound when it comes to sitting down for a green meal. On the plate, in the kitchen, and of course, in the glass — there is no shortage of opportunities for food-focused “ecophiles” to adopt environmentally friendly practices in their everyday lives.

It can be something as simple as supporting a “green” business — an endeavor that the winemaking world has made easy to swallow. From California and Oregon to Arizona and New York, the U.S. boasts an outstanding number of top-notch eco-friendly vineyards. Sustainable farming, using renewable energy and packaging, and waste reduction are among the many practices today’s wineries have adopted to support the environment. Read on to learn more about some wineries making a positive impact on the world.

1. Growing Greener Vineyards

Frog's Leap Winery, in Rutherford, Calif., employs the 'dry farming' technique to conserve water. Photo: Flickr/matthew.hickey

Napa Valley's Cakebread Cellars utilizes recycled materials in its bottles, corks, capsules and even office materials.Photo: Flickr/tellumo

Fetzer Vineyards in Medocino, Calif., powers its operations solely with renewable energy. Photo: Flickr/jabberwock

French rabbit wines are packaged in recyclable, eco-friendly Tetra-Prisma cartons. Photo: French rabbit

Parducci Wine Cellars, located in Ukiah, Calif., are the country's first carbon-neutral winery. Photo: Parducci Wine Cellars

How a winery grows and maintains its vineyard is an essential part of its commitment to being eco-friendly. Frog’s Leap Winery, in Rutherford, Calif., employs dry farming (a technique used to conserve water) in addition to planting cover crops that give off natural nutrients to promote soil growth.