You can't have St. Patrick's Day without green. So what better time to talk a little bit about green wine?
Disclaimer: No wine will be harmed in the making of this blog. Food coloring and wine will stay far away from each other if we have anything to say about it.
Consumers are paying more and more attention to how their products are made. Just like millennials are playing a huge role in wine trends (read more about it in our Rosé blog ), they're also shaping other trends. According to a Nielsen study, almost 3 out of 4 millennial respondents said they're willing to pay extra for sustainable offerings. It's not just millennials though. Over 50% of baby boomers said they'll pay extra for sustainable products too.
Wineries across the world are catering to this eco-friendly consumer. Evidence suggests wine has been around since 7000 B.C. so over time viticulturists have learned how to best protect their vines and the earth.
Now the world of green wine is complicated--different categories, various US and international certifications and organizations...Each category really could have it's own series of blog posts. It is a holiday though, so let's keep it simple.
There are three categories of green wine: Sustainable, Organic, Biodynamic.
Sustainable: Sustainable wines are environmentally sound, socially equitable and economically feasible.
Organic: In the U.S., only the USDA can label a wine as organic. These wines are made without most synthetic materials.
Biodynamic: This category just might be the most difficult. Biodynamic wines look at the vineyard as an ecosystem. Nothing goes to waste and the land is self sufficient.
Now how about an education of a different kind? Beer is typically the libation of choice for St. Patrick's Day festivities, but wine can be just as festive and (although we're biased) an even better choice.
Don't believe us? Just try. We've put together some food and green wine pairings for an Irish feast.
Corned Beef and Cabbage + Thibault Liger Belair Moulin-a-Vent Vieilles Vignes (organic) or Weinbach Pinot Gris Altenbourg (biodynamic and organic)
Photo: Sweet Phi blog
Fish & Chips + Tablas Creek Vermentino (organic) or Peregrine Sauvignon Blanc (organic)
Photo: Pinterest
Shepherd's Pie + L'Oustalet Perrin (organic) or Reyneke Syrah (biodynamic and organic)
Photo: Food Network
