Do you like green wine and views?
I do like them, Virginia-I-am.
I do like – green wine and views.
New Green Wine
Composition also plays an important role in sustainable practices. One concept is to place all grape pumice back into the vineyard after composting it with manure, old hay, and garden waste. A second concept entails going to the extent of owning sheep to graze the vineyards. The sheep provide compost and minimize the cover cropping and weeds between vineyard rows. Both achieve sustainable soil and create healthy organic materials and minerals for the vineyards. And most importantly, organic “green-made” grapes.
Green Vineyards & Wineries
Wineries are reinventing the wheel of winemaking and distribution. Packing wine in a “green” way is the newest trend in eco-winemaking. You won’t be sent home with heavy glass bottles – green alternatives such as lighter glass, bag-in-a-box or cartons are emerging at eco-friendly vineyards.
Other green initiatives include solar energy. Some vineyards recycle and reuse their water and/or have a solar water heating system. Farming and bottling equipment is also solar powered such as forklifts, lights, pumps and more. Other vineyard vehicles operate off of biofuel to reduce pollution.
Virginia Green Wine & Views
Check out these well-known Virginia eco-friendly vineyards in DC’s Wine Country.
- Notaviva Vineyard – is in the process of creating their first organic wine. It will be an Elderberry wine produced from organically grown fruit (Visit Notaviva Vineyard).
- Fabbioli Cellars - uses various sustainable viticulture practices such as harvesting non-irrigated vines to preserve water and allow the vine to adapt to the true climate and spreading spent grapeskins (pumice) back into the vineyard as fertilizer and weed control. The winery utilizes geothermal energy for hot water and climate control. The new winery storage area for Fabbioli was constructed from burying used shipping containers. The cellar reduces the need for cooling and heating and now sets the example for other wineries. Future plans include a rewards program for wine lovers who return the Raspberry Merlot bottles – saving on shipping, printing, and glass (Visit Fabbioli Cellars).
- 8 Chains North – orginially the wine at Fabbioli Cellars. 8 Chains North implements a similar fertilization system as Fabbioli Cellars. Both vineyards place spent grapeskins (pumice) back into the vineyard as fertilizer and weed control (Visit 8 Chains North).
- North Gate Vineyard - these owners are in the process of building a LEED-certified tasting room, making it the only LEED-certified vineyard in DC’s wine country (Visit North Gate Vineyard).
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Tags: 8 Chains North Vineyard, DC's wine country, eco-friendly vineyard, Fabbioli Cellars, green, green wine, Loudoun County, North Gate vineyard, Notaviva Vineyard, red wine, sustainable, Virginia vineyards, Virginia wine, white wine
