I love those conversations with a new friend where you discuss something you haven't touched on yet only to discover you are totally like-minded and passionate about the same things. It's always such a bonding moment, isn't it? And so reassuring that this person you were naturally drawn to is somehow "your people."
Well, I've kind of had that experience with a winery. I know, it might sound strange. But here's my story.
I first stumbled upon Bonterra a few years ago via their Cabernet Sauvignon at a time when organic wines were very hard to come by. I was already on a journey towards cleaner living and determined that doing so didn't mean I had to give up everything I loved, so I went off in search of organic alternatives to my old favourites on many fronts, including red wine. I had no idea at the time how fortunate I was to find Bonterra, but it was definitely "love at first sip" for us!
Let me interrupt my own story by answering a question I can hear ringing out there in the blogosphere. Why drink organic wine, you might ask? Well here's three good reasons.
1. Organic wine is made with organic grapes. That means no pesticides or chemicals are sprayed on the grapes at any point during the process. Not only is this WAY better for your health, it also means the body and structure of the wine are not impeded by the chemicals, leading to a brighter, bolder flavour profile.
2. Organic wines contain fewer sulfites than non-organic wines. Sulfites are sulphuric acids that naturally occur in wine as a result of the fermentation process, but most non-organic wines have more sulfites added to them for preservation purposes. Organic wines, on the other hand, never have sulfites added during the winemaking process, making them much cleaner and healthier for your body.
3. Sustainability. According to the FDA, "organic wine is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations." You don't have to take the FDA at their word, though. Bonterra's story is a beautiful example of how a beautiful process {including caring for the earth} can result in a beautiful product.
OK, back to our story. Isn't that a gorgeous photo? The delicate finch lightly perching on top of a bottle of Bonterra wine. A marketer's dream image. But it's not just marketing! It's their real story. Bonterra truly is a winery that is in touch with nature.
In pursuit of creating a truly sustainable, organic and beautiful product, the team at
Bonterra decided to approach pest control in the most heart-warming and ingenious way possible. Their brilliant team chose to build birdhouses all around the vineyard, welcoming the local finches and bluebirds to nest in these sweet and humble abodes. The birds offer up their thanks {"paying rent" if you will} by snapping up the bugs that would otherwise harm
Bonterra's crops. They get a tasty dinner, and we get gorgeous, organic, sustainably grown wines as a result!
I've already mentioned
Bonterra's Chardonnay {my go-to favourite for
roasting the perfect turkey}, but here are three reds that are sure to convince you that organic is simply better in every way, including the incredibly rich and vibrant flavours they offer.
If the bluebirds and finches weren't enough to get you swooning over this vineyard's beautiful process, there is more to this heart-warming story. Every winter and early spring when it is time to tame the weeds and grasses that flourish on their pesticide-free property, the vineyard skips the air-polution of lawn mowers and heads straight for nature's best grass-groomers: SHEEP! They bring in this fluffy herd of mowers and set them loose to trim back the grass and weeds and improve the biodiversity of the soil while they work!
You can see why I feel like they are "our people" now, right? Having just hosted a delightful dinner party last night for some amazing friends, I can tell you that
Bonterra's wines never fail to impress and delight, pairing well with so many of our favourite meals and hors d'oeuvres. I promise to feature some of our favourite pairings with
Bonterra's wines in future posts, but in the meantime I highly recommend popping out and picking up a few bottles for yourself! Once you've gone organic, you won't go back. Not if
Bonterra is in your wine rack or cellar!
Wishing you an inspired Thursday!
xo
s.
Labels: 3 reasons to drink organic wine, Bonterra Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, kitchen, Merlot, sheep to mow grass, sustainable farming, Zinfandel
