It’s harvest season at vineyards across the country. We’ve told you about hands-on events, and now we’re spotlighting green vineyards and their techniques. Move over merlot! Traveling oenophile Rachel Weil shows how Chardonnay, Rosé and Riesling are now coming to the party dressed in green!

California is home to numerous wine regions, and just a few hours outside of Los Angeles, Paso Robles has some real surprises. Wineries are taking more of an initiative to go green by increasing their sustainable practices and giving back to their community. Vintners and growers are conserving natural resources, protecting the environment, and continuing to make eco-friendly improvements.

Paso Robles, California

“Biodynamic farming promotes healthy vines by not just taking care of each vine, but the farm as a whole living organism,” stated Paul Kaselionis, Estate Vineyard Manager at JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery. “We are trying to produce the purist fruit for our winemaking team to make the best wines.”

JUSTIN Vineyards

Goats at JUSTIN Vineyard

JUSTIN is located in Paso Robles and their dedicated team – including their four-legged teammates – typically focus on Bordeaux blends, such as their JUSTIFICATION. However, they have other varietals in smaller quantities, such as their 2011 Sauvignon Blanc. The uncorked, fruit-forward, fruit-floral wine embodies traces of lime and passion fruit, as well as a hint of apple on a clean crisp finish. They also have a 2011 Chardonnay, a light, tropical white with subtle French oak highlights.

In addition to biodynamic farming, JUSTIN is continuing their “JUST Go Green” initiatives by employing water reclamation ponds, composting, biodegradable packaging as well as recycling, including older barrels that are repurposed into grilling chips!

Their tasting room is open daily at 10:00 a.m. with their last tasting at 4:30 pm., and tours are offered daily at 10:30 am and 2:30 pm by appointment.

L’Aventure

Another winery committed to sustainable agriculture is L’Aventure (“the adventure” in French), a boutique winery tucked away in the Templeton Gap region of Paso Robles. Their green practices include waste water treatment, solar power, composting, biodynamic practices, as well as the implementation of vegetative habitual areas.

Looking for a few interesting wines to try? Known for their Rhône varietals, L’Aventure showcases a limited production of white blends each year. Their 2010 Roussanne Estate, consisting of 87 percent Roussanne and 13 percent Grenache Blanc, captures a soft floral and spicy aroma on the nose, and stone fruit flavors including caramel apple on the palate. It’s complex and medium-bodied with a smooth finish. Their 2011 Estate Cuvée Blanc, which is a 51 percent Roussanne and 49 percent Grenache Blanc, has white fruit and floral aromas, is delicate yet complex, with a big body and a long finish.

For a wine to go with every meal, try their 2011 Rosé Estate, referred to as a “magic wine” by French winemaker Stephan Asseo. A blend of 70 percent Syrah, 20 percent Mourvedre and 10 percent Grenache, the Rosé was bottled just two weeks after the end of fermentation to “capture in the glass all the aromas.”

L’Aventure’s tasting room is open Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment only Monday through Wednesday. If you’re a club member, you can enjoy private tours by calling ahead for an appointment.

The Finger Lakes, New York

Not in California? No worries… head to the Finger Lakes in New York, the largest winemaking region on the East Coast. Riesling, which originated in the Rhine Valley in Germany and is often referred to as the “cool climate grape,” remains the signature wine of the area. And sustainability is a hot topic!

Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard

Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard combines old-world viticulture expertise from Bernkastel, Germany with sustainable modern techniques at their vineyard.  Organic fertilizers, elimination of herbicides and planting cover crops are just a few of the initiatives currently in place.  “We plant cover crops to enhance soil biodiversity and improve soil fertility, which is a major aspect of sustainable agriculture,” stated Oskar Bynke, Estate Manager and Co-Owner of Wiemer. “As we rely more and more on compost and cover crops to supply nutrients and produce organic matter, a nitrogen fixing cover crop is key, allowing for a healthier vineyard and ultimately higher quality grapes.”

With aromas of tangerine, Wiemer’s 2010 Dry Riesling Reserve is refreshing wine with a subtle mix of citrus and a touch of berry on the palate. It’s a consistent, sweet medium-bodied wine with a nice lingering finish.

For a dryer wine, their 2011 Dry Riesling embraces apricot and peach on the palate, carrying into a long finish. You can visit their tasting room Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Red Tail Ridge

Also located in the Finger Lakes region is Red Tail Ridge, whose modern state-of-the-art winery received the first LEED certification in New York, currently Gold LEED certification! The winery was constructed from recycled materials and also includes double-paned windows to utilize natural light, geothermal heating and cooling, and a water reclamation system. “We knew that ‘green’ was the direction we wanted to move towards,” stated Nancy Irelan, Co-Owner and winemaker of Red Tail Ridge. “Our goal is to be as environmentally sustainable as possible, while maintaining the quality of our vines and wines.”

For a wine with intense fruit aromas, try the 2010 Semi-Dry Riesling from Red Tail Ridge. It has sweet melon flavors, and a clean and crisp finish.  Their 2010 Dry Riesling embodies complex aromas of dried fruit and toasted almonds, with lime and orange citrus notes on the palate and a snappy finish.

Their 650- square-foot tasting room is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. They also offer tours upon request.

For more wine-inspired travels, check out:

• Signature Dishes: Wines of Mexico
• Hard-On Harvest Times Vineyard Experiences
• Off Season Activities in America’s Vineyards
• Wine Boot Camp Chronicles

By Rachel Weil for PeterGreenberg.com