Why Green Wines are this summers hottest trend

Earthy colours and shades of green are not only hot on the catwalk this summer. This season you can wear your favourite summer dress while you sip on some fantastic tasting natural wines. ‘Green’ wines are not just another marketing ploy and unless we change our habits of destruction we won’t have a future.

Most winemakers will tell you that organic wines makes better wines. The foundation of a good wine starts in the vineyard and over the last few decades, the push for more responsible, sustainable farming practices, which reject the use of synthetic soil nutrients and pesticides, has extended to grape-growing and wine production.

Many wine enthusiasts believe organic wine varieties are more flavourful because they’re made from grapes raised on healthier soil. By choosing wines produced from organically grown grapes, you support agricultural communities that refuse to pollute soil and water supplies.

It’s clear that green wine remains a niche sector and entries were down this year to 49 wines from 11 producers, compared to 50 from 16 in 2010 and 51 from 19 in 2009.

South Africa’s Top Green Wines were announced at the Green Wine Awards Ceremony at the Mont Nelson, Cape Town, on Thursday and these wine came out top of the charts:

Best White and Best Wine Overall: Reyneke Chenin Blanc 2010
Best Red: Laibach The Ladybird Red 2010
Best Natural Sweet: Stellar Heaven on Earth Natural Sweet NV

Featuring in this year’s guide are 21 white wines, 28 red wines and 6 other wines (including sweet and rosé wines). Below we have listed the Top 10 wines overall to give you a taste of what to expect in the guide.

4 Stars

Reyneke Chenin Blanc 2010 – R100
Waverley Hills 2010 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc – R45
Laibach Ladybird Red 2010 – R85
Stellar Organic Heaven on Earth – R59

3 ½ Stars
Reyneke Chenin Blanc/Chardonnay/Sauvignon Blanc 2010 – R55
Laibach Woolworths Merlot 2010 – R85

3 Stars
Reyneke Sauvignon Blanc 2010 – R80
Waverley Hills Shiraz 2009 – R50
Wedderwill 17°C 2008 – R53
Waverley Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 – R50

The Best Environmental Practices Award went to Paul Cluver Wines in Elgin. This category of the Nedbank Green Wine Awards highlights those producers that farm in a sustainable manner, while giving back to the environment and community in which they exist.

Runner-ups in this category:
Second place -La Motte, Franschhoek

Third place – Waverley Hills, Tulbagh

Fourth place – Cloof/Burgherspost, Darling

We can all make a difference by supporting these producers who care for the environment and do their utmost to make a difference.

comment on this article

circulation

Short Link: http://wyn.cc/czpg6