​As part of my Earth Month quest for all things sustainable in and around Portland this April, I had the good fortune to get a personal tour of a small, sustainably farmed Oregon vineyard--Tonnelier Vineyard. Owners Mike & Julie Slater showed me around their pinot noir planted (Dijon clones 114, 115, 667 and 777 on Riparian stock, if you're really interested), south sloped, Willakenzie soil, 4-acre vineyard in the Willamette Valley’s Yamhill-Carlton AVA.
 
I saw the first bud break on the 2017 grapevines (pictured below). The Tonnelier Vineyard has been Low Input Viticulture and Enology (or "LIVE") certified since 2012.
 

​LIVE is a rigorous, third-party certification process and a marker of the environmentally and socially responsible farming methods used to grow and harvest grapes. LIVE is certified internationally by the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC) and implemented locally by a non-profit organization of Oregon winegrowers.

After the vineyard tour (capped with some yummy fromage and smoked salmon), we scooted over to one of the wineries where the Tonnelier grapes become wine--Bells Up Winery.
 
I'm not sure which I enjoyed most—touring the sustainable vineyard with Mike and Julie, tasting the wines (including a 3-year vertical of the Titan Pinot Noir), hearing Dave and Sara's story about building their winery and wines, or witnessing the magical partnership between a micro wine grower and wine maker. Altogether—a great way to experience earth’s bounty.

If I were pressed to pick only one favorite bottle from the Bells Up Winery collection, I'd have to go with the 2014 Villanelle Pinot Noir. It is a really special, limited edition reserve sourced solely from Tonnelier. Lots of dark berries with the smooth, silky finish you’d expect from a great Oregon Pinot Noir. But, don’t make me choose—they were all high quality wines.

If you're interested in an authentic, un-corporate, un-domaine sustainable Oregon Wine experience where you chat directly with the winemaker (and if you're lucky enough, the wine grower too) - make an appointment for your #BellsUpMoment @bellsupwinery.

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Thank you for reading my post. Here at Corporate Sustainability Advisors LLC blog and at LinkedIn, I regularly write about organizational, community, and personal sustainability. If you would like to read my future posts then please click 'Follow' and feel free to also connect via Twitter and Facebook.

Everyone is a little Irish on March 17th, right. I come by it naturally from my Irish-born grandmother Irene so the wearing & living of the green is a wee more constant presence for me.
 
I’ve always thought of St. Patrick’s Day as one of the greenest days of the year. Second only to Earth Day (April 22nd). In fact, it’s a great precursor to all of Earth Month. Embracing these two green days is a wonderful way to celebrate the wonder of nature’s beauty as spring bursts with new life.
 
Enough waxing, let’s get to the drinking!
 
Although I prefer something black & tan most St. Pat’s days, I’ve been known to have a green beer or two. As lrish luck would have it, it’s never been easier to drink green! That’s great because who really wants to drink a bunch of pesticides?
 
Like many consumer products, the adult beverage industry is greening itself and becoming more sustainable. There’s even a Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable.
 
Today we see:

• more artisanal, locally-sourced, fair-labored, and/or organic products and producers
• larger brands shifting to more sustainable operations such as greener buildings, the use of renewable energy sources, and fair-trade sourced materials
• some beverage companies looking even more holistically to promote social good in addition to earning a decent profit by becoming B Corporations. (e.g., New Belgium, A to Z Wineworks, Hopworks Urban Brewery, Winderlea Winery, Sokol Blosser Winery, Fetzer Vineyards, 100 Percent Wine, North Coast Brewing, Asian Brewing Company).

 
Distilled Tips | A few things to look for in finding the most sustainable spirits to drink. Search out:

• organic, bio-dynamic, and/or free of pesticides, petrochemical fertilizers, or herbicides
• local
• businesses with commitments and practices in sourcing, crafting, and distributing the beverage (e.g., thoughtful containers and packaging) with a lighter environmental impact

 
I’ll leave you with one of my favorite Irish expressions…
May brooks and trees and singing hills
Join in the chorus, too.
And every gentle wind that blows
Send happiness to you.
 
Remember to drink responsibly. You are what you drink.
 
What other ways do you like to green your drinking? I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts in the comments below.
 
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Thank you for reading my post. Here at the Corporate Sustainability Advisors LLC blog and on LinkedIn, I regularly write about organizational, community, and personal sustainability. If you would like to read my future posts then please click 'Follow' and feel free to also connect via Twitter and Facebook.