Popular Aussie wine goes green
It is always nice to see profitable companies behaving like good corporate citizens, and wineries are no exception.
The continued success of the wine industry depends on environmental issues such as the availability of water, the use (or discontinued use) of pesticides and herbicides and other sustainable wine-making practices.
Many wineries opt to support environmental causes because it is in their best interest and it makes them look good in the public eye.
Earlier this week, Burning Hawk, Seghesio Family Vineyards, Benziger Family Winery and DeLoach Vineyards announced they have joined the popular Facebook application, Green My Vino.
Within a few short weeks, Green My Vino has raised $10,000 for renewable energy resources in California by converting the four wineries, plus several others, to clean energy.
Some wineries opt to support other worthwhile causes, not just environmental issues. The late Robert Mondavi was a noted philanthropist, donating millions to his pet projects. In the process, he caused a major family rift due to the sheer volume of his generosity.
Another California winery, Ehlers, donates all its profits to the Leducq Foundation, a trust established to find a cure for cardiovascular disease.
Closer to home, the Okanagan's Tinhorn Creek Vineyards has donated more than $50,000 to the Boys and Girls Club in B.C. and Alberta, an organization that has done some great work helping kids across the country.
Last week, I met Tony Sharley, the manager of Banrock Station's Wine and Wetland Centre in South Australia.
Banrock is a well-known producer of value wines, delivering some of the best deals going in the under-$15 range.
What many people don't know about Banrock Station is that the winery has made a major commitment to the environment -- in the neighborhood of $5 million -- by protecting wetlands around the world.
In Canada, they have funded projects in Alberta, B.C., Ontario and Nova Scotia.
In most cases they have partnered with organizations like Ducks Unlimited, the Calgary and Toronto zoos and the Vancouver Aquarium to protect and restore wetland areas. One particularly ambitious project focuses on re-introducing Atlantic salmon into Lake Ontario. (The fish were eradicated from the lake due to pollution and over-fishing.)
I recently tasted a range of Banrock Stations' wines and was reminded of the solid value they deliver. The non-vintage sparkling Chardonnay ($14) is a lively glass of fizz with bright
orchard fruit notes, a nice aperitif wine that would also go well with mild curries.
The Banrock Station Shiraz ($14) is another good buy, offering jammy black fruits and little spice -- a soft, easy-drinking red ideally suited to casual fare such as burgers and grilled sausages. Cheers!
Geoff Last is a longtime Calgary wine merchant and writer and is a regular contributor to Orange Life and City Palate magazines. He instructs on food and wine at the Cookbook Company Cooks.
Best Cellars
Wine: Banrock Station 2007 Unwooded Chardonnay
Country: Australia, from South Australia
Suggested retail price: $13, GST included
Availability: general listing, widely available
Tasting notes: The name says it all. This Chardonnay sees no oak, going directly from stainless tank to bottle.
The result is a crisp, lively Chardonnay that offers notes of melon, apple and citrus.
It would go well with shellfish, salads and mild cheeses such as Brie and cheddar