Going Green in Wine Country
by You'll find my Iconic Itinerary of Napa Valley, California, in Conde Nast Traveler's April issue. I've laid out five days of touring that include the county's best wineries, restaurants, and hotels. What you won't find in the article are expressly "green" options for your wine country vacation (though it was a relatively green trip for me, since I live just a short drive away in San Francisco).
Where to go if you want to see the sustainable side of Napa Valley? One must-see is Ubuntu, a new restaurant in the town of Napa. Here you'll find organic vegetarian cuisine, with ingredients sourced largely from the restaurant's own biodynamic garden. One dish you absolutely must order is the signature cauliflower in a cast-iron pot -- so savory you'll wonder where they hid the meat. If you're feeling cramped from the car ride, drop in on a yoga class at the upstairs studio.
Ubuntu does have a wide selection of biodynamic labels on its wine list, but I didn't visit any such wineries during my trip. Can any of you recommend some biodynamic and/or organic wineries in Napa Valley?
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Hey Brook,
Sounds like Jackie Richmond put together a great Napa tour for you. Now that you are a local, I hope you get a chance to visit Livermore, Sonoma and Lake County wine regions.
I can recommend an amazing biodynamic/organic winery in Upper Lake County. Jim Fetzer?s Ceago Vinegarden in Nice, CA, is certainly worth a visit. (Go in the spring when the lavender is in bloom.) It?s also one of the only wineries located at lake level so visitors can actually arrive via floatplane using Seaplane Tours out of Pier 39 and Sausalito if they don?t want to drive.
I recently did a road trip from the East Bay stopping at unique bed and breakfasts and discovered Ceago. My trip started at the Inn at Occidental, moved on to the Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake, meandered to St. Helena?s Wine Country Inn and ended at Napa's 1801 First Inn.
Like you, I did my trip in the winter and was rewarded with no crowds and better lodging pricing.
Nancy Brown
Posted by: WhataTrip | April 10, 2008 at 05:07 PM
Hi Brook:
Napa Valley wineries that do biodynamic practices include:
Joseph Phelps Vineyards
Grgich Hills Cellar
Viader Vineyards
Ehlers Estate
Posted by: GladysHoriuchi | April 10, 2008 at 07:38 PM
Some fantastic organic wineries in Sonoma Valley include: Coturri Winery, Benziger Family Estate and Grebennikoff Vineyards. Tony Coturri will be hosting the first ever Organic Winemaking Adventure in October, where 10 guests will have the opportunity go behind the scenes in an unparalleled exploration of sustainable winemaking. Check it out at www.organicwinejournal.com.
Posted by: Nicki2 | April 11, 2008 at 01:52 PM
Wow, thanks for all the tips! I'm not sure what the practicalities are of burying cow horns (as is done in biodynamic farming), but if it makes good wine that's good for the planet, I'll drink it!
Posted by: BrookWilkinson | April 11, 2008 at 09:02 PM