Sustainable Wine: More Than a Green Label

When you hear the words “sustainable wine,” what comes to mind? Solar panels on a winery roof? Organic grapes? Maybe a bottle made from lighter glass? Those are certainly pieces of the puzzle. But sustainability in wine is much bigger and much more interesting than a list of environmentally friendly practices. At its heart, sustainable winegrowing is about finding a way to produce high-quality grapes and wine while protecting the land, the people who work it, and the communities that depend on it. The Wine Institute describes sustainable winegrowing as environmentally sound, socially equitable, and economically viable. Those three ideas—environmental health, social equality, and economic vitality—are the foundation.

Boxwood and Virginia Wine: 250 Years in the Making

Virginia wine has enjoyed a remarkable run of international recognition over the past several years. Most recently, wineries from the Commonwealth, particularly those in the Monticello AVA, made headlines after blind tastings once again placed Virginia wines alongside some of France’s best. For many, it felt like another “Judgment of Paris.” Whether it surprised anyone depended largely on which side of the Atlantic they were standing.