Celebrate Earth Day with organic Releaf wine

What better way to celebrate Earth Day then sitting by the Koi pond sipping a glass of South Africa’s Releaf wine. My husband and I try to be as Earth friendly as we can. We recycle more than we put in the trash, have a rain barrel to catch rain for our thirsty Florida friendly plants, compost to reduce waste and provide nutrient rich soil to plants and vegetable garden and use a micro-irrigation system to reduce the use of water in our gardens. Today we can add one more Earth friendly act to our list, drinking Releaf wine, made in an organic manner.

I have to admit, I had my reservations on how this wine would taste. I’ve had some other organic wines and even beers and they usually taste like, well…pesticides. I know, exactly the thing organic grown fruits don’t use but still, they have not been very pleasant. Imagine my delight when I found this wine not only did not taste like pesticides but actually tasted pretty darn good.

Black Cassis, spice, vanilla and oak tickle the senses. High tannins and astringent on the first sip and not much else that I can detect but after a little aeration, bold vanilla, a hint of capsicum, black cherry and cassis leave the palate with a delicious and supple mouthfeel. The wine is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 20% Shiraz. Each grape lending to the concentrated flavors and balanced complexity.

Releaf is produced in the Swartland region of the Western Cape, South Africa. Formerly a cattle pasture, the land had been uncultivated for 17 years, making it ideal for growing organic grapes. Each grape is 100% hand harvested and grown in organic soil certified by Soil Association Certification Ltd., the oldest and most recognized organic certifier in the world. The bottle is made from partially recycled glass and the labels are made from recycled paper, and printed with sustainable inks.

Now let me just say, Releaf is not alone in their efforts. Most wine makers realize the importance of sustainable land. If they ruin the land, they ruin their livelihood and ruin the land for future generations. This means reducing or eliminating the use of harsh chemicals and finding alternate methods to protect their vineyards. Many vineyards are now looking to harnessing the wind to offset power use for their facilities. Unfortunately many wineries face too much red tape and are unable to install wind turbines or windspire turbines. Even collectors are reducing their carbon footprint and outfitting their cellars with products that have minimal impact on the environmental.

This Earth Day, raise your wine glass to Mother Nature and throw caution to the wind knowing somewhere, a winery may be harnessing that wind to make you delicious wine.

Tampa Bay, looking for a way to do your part. ABC Fine Wine & Spirits and Whole Foods both have cork recycling programs. Bring in your corks so they can be recycled and given second lives.

My rating - We’ll drink the rest tomorrow.

2010© Kellie Stargaard. All Rights Reserved.

http://winechicksguidetoeverydaywines.blogspot.com/

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Something for you white wine lovers, Chateau de Nages la Reserve White 2008

For the past several months people ask, “when are you going to write about white wines?” Well, there’s a reason why I focus on red wines, I typically don’t like white wines that fall under the $9.99 range. I find them too sweet, too buttery and just not enjoyable. Doesn’t mean they’re bad, just means my palate doesn’t appreciate them as much as it does red wines. On my last trip to my Tampa Total Wine store, I wandered down the French wine aisle hoping inexpensive French white wines would be more palatable than their US counterparts. I also was able to sample from their wine bar and even received a $1 off coupon when I decided to purchase one of the wines, Chateau de Nages La Reserve White 2008, offered up for sampling. Free wine samples and $1 off coupon, has that for budget wine drinking.

Color is a pale yellow, aromas are promising, crisp apple, pineapple and a hint of butter. Flavors boasting of green apple, pear and citrus, smooth and light acids. It’s actually pretty tasty for a white wine, especially now that we’re coming into the outdoor wine drinking season here in the Tampa Bay area.

Wine Info:
Terroir: " Grès ", rolled pebbles and red clay.Varietals: 60% Grenache Blanc, 40% Roussanne.Chateau de Nages vineyards, Costières de Nîmes, is the southern most vineyard of the Rhone Valley. Four generations of winemakers, the family takes pride in working in harmony with nature and preserving the land for future generations. Their conviction to giving back to the land has the family committed to finding alternate resources that will not damage the ecology, such as finding an alternate to the use of copper which has devastating effects on the land.

Of late there has been a concern for ecological practices in French vineyards. Winegrowers are shying away from chemical fertilizers and turning to compost and finding alternatives to chemical weeding because of its effects on the soil. The consequences can sometimes be devastating: soil erosion, biological retrogradation of soil or bacteria that can destroy vine roots.

Copper salts are the only efficient fungicides shown to reduce downy mildew (peronospora) in organic farming. While highly efficient the copper can accumulate in the soils causing them to loose fertility.
The challenge winegrowers face is trying to reduce the use of copper while still maintaining healthy vines and soil.

The Michel Gassier website goes above the typical wine food pairing, including cheese, meats, herbs, garden, seafood, cooking method, sauces and dessert recommendations. Got to love the French for always thinking about food and wine.

While I favor reds, I’m going to start incorporating more white wine reviews and hopefully I can do them justice. If there are some white wines you think I should try, priced under $9.99, let me know.

2010© Kellie Stargaard. All Rights Reserved.

http://winechicksguidetoeverydaywines.blogspot.com/

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