A current survey said 65% of respondents missed travel last year they were willing to go off social media for a month to have a safe vacation. For those who prioritize green travel, there are endless on-screen and off-screen considerations that go into planning a wine trip.
Sustainable travelers must “review every leg of the journey,” says Liz Thach, MW, author and professor of wine at Sonoma State University.
With the resumption of tourism around the world, wine lovers have an opportunity to slow down and rethink their travel habits. From transportation, hotels, wineries, restaurants and even the shops visited, no service bundles sustainable decisions for wine lovers. Here’s how to make a wine travel decision that you and future generations can live with.
Blubird Box at Honey Vineyard & Winery / Photo courtesy of Honey Vineyard & Winery
transport
Thach suggests renting a hybrid or electric vehicle for road trips. Sustainable wine tours she even drives around in a Tesla in Santa Barbara.
When flying, look out for CO2 offsetting programs where travelers pay to “offset” or offset the emissions caused by flights. Programs include World Land Trust, assisted by naturalist Sir David Attenborough, and Gold standard, with which clients can contribute to programs like reforestation in Nicaragua or clean drinking water in Rwanda.
According to Thach, more and more cities are offering bike sharing programs MountNBArrel in Hood River, Oregon, and East End bike tours on Long Island in New York. Some places have robust train systems, like the one between Paris and Bordeaux.
Reusable
Do you buy bottled water? Pack a reusable collapsible container like the like Hydaway or Nomads, or a flat pack Steamship.
Disposable coffee mugs are just as problematic as plastic bottles, so bring one Stojo or Hunu, and even this collapsible kettle from Tayama for the brewer on the go.
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It’s easy to wrap tote bags made from recycled or organic cotton. Take them to wineries to reduce single-use plastic bags.
accommodation
Look for wine growing areas that are environmentally committed and do your research carefully. LEED properties (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) are considered the gold standard for green building strategies such as energy efficiency. However, some have been accused of exaggerating environmental performances, so check out the properties one at a time.
In the Napa Valley, for example Bardessono has achieved platinum certification and the review of its credentials shows a host of ambitious initiatives such as solar and geothermal infrastructure, salvaged building materials, treatment and recycling of gray and black water, low flow faucets, and drought tolerant and indigenous landscaping.
Subime Comporta, Portugal / Photo by Nelson Garrido / Regenerative Travel
Regenerative travel highlights properties that aim to improve the environment and the surrounding community. Co-founder Amanda Ho has reviewed resorts and hotels, including two in wine-growing areas.
Tuscany Oasy Hotel is located in a former hunting lodge in a nature reserve, and the Sublime Comporta, on the coast of Portugal, grows food in his garden, works with local fishermen and farmers, and recycles wastewater, among his gentle and supportive initiatives.
Wineries and ecotourism
The ultimate way to balance your values and your wallet is to support regions and wineries that are committed to sustainable, organic and / or biodynamic agriculture. More than 99% of Sonoma County’s vineyards are sustainably certified, says Karissa Kruse, president of the Winemaker in Sonoma County Trading group.
“I’ve heard from consumers, wine lovers, and even our local community that they feel good to be part of the sustainability and climate movement that is happening right now [here]“, Says Kruse.
Sonoma County Winegrowers has partnered with several wineries to create self-guided vineyard walks that feature sustainability practices that will be highlighted on their website.
Demand for nature walks and educational eco-tours has increased, although most global tourism association websites have not caught up. It’s often easier to “find dog- and child-friendly winery recommendations than eco-friendly wine tourism activities,” says Thach.
Camp Mama Adam, Portugal / Photo courtesy of Camp Mama Adama
Explore the sustainable, organic and / or biodynamic Wineries in the area you want to visit, then check their websites for eco tours. Slow wine, an annual guide from Slow Food, recommends wineries that meet criteria such as wine quality, terroir, value for money and environmental awareness. It offers comprehensive lists for Italy, Slovenia, California, Oregon, and plans to offer similar picks for New York and Washington soon.
Benziger offers one of the most famous eco tours in California. The company has its Tribute Estate Tour & Tasting “So that the guests can experience first hand how biodynamics works in the vineyard,” says Chris Benziger, brand ambassador. “When you immerse yourself in the experience, you rediscover the power of nature. You have an ‘a-ha!’ Moment when it comes to agriculture. “
The 90-minute tour, limited to groups of eight, costs $ 60 per person and explores the vineyards of Sonoma Mountain Estate, followed by an outdoor tasting of four biodynamic wines.
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Regina Weinstein, Director of Marketing and Trade for Weingut Honig & Weingut in Napa, consumer says “love, love, love” its eco tours. For $ 45, a honey guide takes guests through the vineyard to learn about bird boxes, beehives, owl poles, and water management strategies, as well as honey’s role in restoring the Rutherford Reach of the Napa River.
“Eco tours are especially popular now,” says Weinstein. “Younger generation visitors are most concerned about the environmental impact of the companies they support.”
Habitat restoration has taken a leadership role at Jordan Winery. CEO and owner John Jordan read articles about the dwindling population of Western monarchs that inspired the company to create a pollination sanctuary along its six-kilometer stretch Vineyard hike Hiking trails ($ 110 per person).
“We know that in the last five years many pollinators have lost their habitat in forest fires,” says Jordan. “We felt like we had the land … and the will to do something.”
So far, the winery has planted 10 hectares of protected areas with 102 species of plants, which are home to at least 60 species of butterflies and moths. When Earth Week hikes were announced in April, they sold out within an hour, says Lisa Mattson, Jordan’s director of Marketing & Communications.
In Oregon, Knudsen vineyards, which is certified as Low-Input Viticulture and Enology (LIVE) and Salmon Safe, offers a guided vineyard walk followed by lunch and a tasting ($ 65 / person).
Sustainable Wine Tours hosts a group in Santa Barbara / Photo courtesy of Sustainable Wine Tours
Restoration and rewilding
Contemplate an overgrown day restoring an area to its uncultivated state, or visit an ecosystem restoration camp to add to the positive effects of your travels.
Rewild Europe, a conservation group that restores and protects natural processes and wilderness across the continent, is making efforts near wine regions in Portugal, Italy, Germany, Moldova, Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria.
In Portugal’s Greater Côa Valley, the Wild Côa network presents an association of sustainable companies that promote responsible, educational and cultural travel, such as Portugal A2Z hiking & cycling Tours and Casas do Juízo, a rural village surrounded by vineyards.
To raise awareness of the rewilding efforts, Symington Family Estates launched a new wine that is packaged in a recyclable bag-in-tube container. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the Rewilding Portugal initiative.
The ecosystem restoration camps offer both pop-up days and multi-day camps.
In 2018, the Camp Fire in California devastated 153,336 acres, destroyed an additional 18,000 buildings and killed 85 people. The campfire recovery project, also called Camp Paradise, was established after the fire to support reforestation and the community around the town of Paradise. At one event, campers helped locals restore scorched land, and organizers taught new skills and shared resources like native trees that are better adapted to fire.
Most of the overnight camps were closed during the pandemic, but many are slowly reopening, with several on the horizon for Australia, Portugal, Spain and France. Camp Mama Adama In the Alentejo, for example, campers are hired to restore trees that have been affected by fungus. Activities range from cleaning and replanting new trees to working in the garden, with sunrise meditations offered in the morning and local wine served in the evening.
