A salute to wine makers as stewards of the Earth

Winemakers are, first and foremost, farmers. They have a connection with the land that's as deeply rooted in the soil as their vines. Without a fertile Mother Earth, their parcels and our wine racks would be empty.

And so they nurture her. In return she blossoms with delicious, ripe fruit year after year. The relationship is symbiotic, and an ideal one to explore in commemoration of Earth Day, which is Friday.

It's no surprise, then, that many have chosen to be advocates of the Earth with organic and sustainable farming. Their practices include composting, cover-cropping, implementing efficient irrigation management, eliminating chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, and using biodiesel farming equipment.

They are conserving water and energy, reducing environmental impact and enhancing biodiversity, as well as maintaining the vineyard's economic viability for future generations.

While this might not seem like a major contribution to the larger society, consider there are more than 18 million acres of vineyards worldwide pumping out approximately 40 billion bottles of wine on average each year.

Suddenly, we see the bigger picture, and it's worth raising a glass to.

Joe Iurato is a sommelier and an artist.