Have Your Wine And Drink It Too

For many, few luxuries are as enjoyable as a glass of fine wine. Whether red or white, sparkling or rosé, wine is an adult treat to be savored. For the eco-conscious consumer, choosing a bottle of wine that is both environmentally smart and delightful can be a challenge. While grapes grow in nearly all corners of the earth, both how they are grown and the trip they take can have a big environmental impact. Is Organic the Answer? Many wineries now feature wine made from organically grown grapes. This refers to grapes that have been grown without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers. While some organically grown products can vary considerably from their conventionally grown counterpart in size or flavor, organic grapes are considered on par with or even better than the alternative. Websites such as The Organic Wine Company are great starting places to figure out if organic wine is for you. This site features and sells a large variety of organic wines from all over the world. When it comes to your total environmental impact, however, while organic wine is gentler on the local ecosystem, it comes with a carbon price tag that is not much lower than the conventional alternative. Location, Location, Location While the United States is known for many great wine-growing regions, when it comes to wine, buying American is not always the smartest environmental choice. While wine from other continents might travel thousands of miles from the vineyard to your glass, not all miles traveled can be considered equal. While airplane shipping is certainly the most fossil fuel intensive method of travel, most wine from overseas is actually shipped via container ships in a long but relatively low-energy process. These ships in many cases create less pollution and burn less fuel than a truck traveling across the United States. Another thing to consider is the amount of wine compared to the amount of glass in the bottle; this means a magnum bottle, with less glass for the same amount of wine, is the more environmentally aware decision. Even better, however, is wine shipped in barrels and bottled closer to your location. Dr. Vino, a website specializing in wine information, has discovered a green line across the United States. It is more "green" for locations to the west of this line to drink wines from California while locations to the east of this line are better off drinking European or other international wines. The Bottom Line Wine is a luxury that the eco-conscious can certainly still enjoy. Your location and the growing practices of your winery of choice are to be taken into account. There is also a great deal to be noted in the recycling opportunities for wine bottles. For the green wine connoisseur, it might be worth investigating the smaller wineries closer to your location (this database might come in handy). From Kansas to Maine, South Carolina to Nebraska, wineries exist all throughout the country. Paying for special shipping for delightful wine from your own state might be well worth the smaller footprint you are leaving on the rest of the world. Image Credits: Nova 68, The Organic Wine Company, Dr. Vino

How to Find the Ultimate Green Dining Experience

When it comes to serving a chilled glass of biodynamic Merlot or providing a romantic setting with energy-efficient lighting, an increasing number of luxury restaurants are embracing the concept of dining green. From the food they serve to their manicured lawns, take note that some of the best sustainable experiences come from a luxury restaurant with the Green Restaurant Association seal of approval. What is the Green Restaurant Association (GRA)? The GRA is a national non-profit organization that offers restaurants, manufacturers, distributors, and consumers an easy and cost-efficient entryway into the world of environmental responsibility. In order to become certified by the Green Restaurant Association, an already established business, new venture, or the foodservice portion of an event must satisfy standards ranging from water efficiency to sustainable foods. The GRA relies on a point system to determine worthy businesses. For example, since an average restaurant can use 300,000 gallons of water per year, the organization encourages water efficiency and conservation in food service facilities. As a result, the GRA awards points for low water landscaping that covers 50% of site area (3), greywater reuse in plumbing system (7.25), and waterless urinals (4.25). Celebrity Green Restaurant Buzz When it comes to attracting the rich and famous, there is no denying the star power of Batali-Bastianich restaurants. Celebrity chef Mario Batali and biodynamic winemaker Joseph Bastianich are known in luxury dining circles as a sustainable force. Satisfying the GRA certification standards is no easy feat, but six Batali-Bastianich restaurants stretching from Los Angeles to New York accomplished the task with flying colors. Most recently, the B&B Ristorante, Enoteca San Marco, and Carnevino in Las Vegas joined the Del Posto in New York, Pizzeria Mozza and Osteria Mozza in Los Angeles in receiving honors from the GRA. Some of the sustainable features they've implemented include:

• Food waste composting program
• Full-scale recycling
• Bottled water elimination
• Use of non-toxic cleaning chemicals
• Water and energy-conserving spray valves in their kitchens
• Recycled paper menus
• No Styrofoam
• Energy-efficient hand dryers

Additional restaurants that have received high marks from the GRA: George's at the Cove (La Jolla, California) – breathtaking ocean views and relaxing indoor setting Lumiere (West Newton, Massachusetts) – dishes with a French influence Bamboo Sushi (Portland, Oregon) – sustainable fish and highest grade of beef served The Bagel Bin Cafe (Rochester, New York) – Serves spicy salmon wrap and gourmet bagels Roti Mediterranean (Chicago, Illinois) – Moroccan rice bowl and Mediterranean lemon chicken soup To learn more about how luxury restaurants become a significant member of the sustainable community, the Green Restaurant Association has created a PDF outlining their standards and point system. To locate GRA-certified eateries in your neck of the woods, use their restaurant locater. Photo Credits: Enoteca San Marco (t) and George's at the Cove (b)