Eco Conscious Wine Touring & Tasting
In addition to sharing a dedication to making superior quality wines, several Santa Barbara wine makers are passionate about sustainable and organic grape growing and wine making practices. Take a "green" wine tour or buy "green" wines. Following are wineries that are making efforts to protect the earth, as well as a wine tour company offering guided "Sustainable Vine" wine tours in a biodiesel-fueled van.
7250 Santa Rosa Road , Buellton
805.688.9090, www.almarosawinery.com
"Nature & agriculture in sustainable harmony!"
1633 West Central Avenue, Lompoc
805.736.9957, www.ampeloscellars.com
Ampelos Cellars believes in taking care of and respecting the environment and that their vineyard needs to be in balance. They made the decision to go 100% bio-dynamic. This means they are essentially organic - yet a step beyond. In 2008, they were one of the first vineyards to be certified as a Sustainably Farmed.
By appointment or via Sustainable Vine tours.
2670 Ontiveros Road, Los Olivos
805.688.8664, www.beckmenvineyards.com
Respect for the land is a fundamental element of the Beckmen Vineyards philosophy. In this spirit, beginning in 2006, Steve Beckmen began farming 100 percent of Purisima Mountain Vineyard biodynamically.
805.735.2196, www.clospepe.com
Non-interventionist winemakers with a fierce dedication to sustaibility.
Please note: by appointment only, must call to schedule tasting.
805.737.0204, www.gypsycanyon.com
Home to the oldest vines in Santa Barbara County, Gypsy Canyon is as green and hands-on as it gets when it comes to wine. Winemaker Deborah Hall employs biodynamic growing methods and her bottles are made of hand-blown recycled glass and the wine labels are hand-written on recycled paper. Try her rare Mission-era Angelica desert wine!
Please note: by appointment only, must call to schedule tasting.
The entirely biodynamically and sustainably farmed Demetria Estate offers Rhone style wines. Please note: via Sustainable Vine or by appointment only, must call or email to schedule tasting.
805.698.3911, www.sustainablevine.com
Sustainable Vine Wine Tours offers guided tours of organic and biodynamic wineries in a biodiesel-powered van. The tour includes tastings, an organic picnic lunch, $10 gift certificate towards wine purchase and door-to-door pick-up/drop-off. The cost is $115 per person; capacity is 10 passengers, and tours depart daily with a minimum of 4 passengers.
125 Refugio Road, Santa Ynez
805.688.9463, www.sunstonewinery.com
A family-run winery that farms their 77-acre vineyards in an organic, bio-sustainable manner, meeting all California Certified Organic Farmer standards.
