Enjoy Responsibly

The 43rd edition of Vinitaly opened on the 2nd of April in Verona. The Italian wine fair presented some interesting and innovative ecological practices that will hopefully contageously spread to the industry.

Caldirola Vini, introduced W! [AL generation], a product line characterized by an aluminum bottle, 100% recyclable, more resistant but lighter and more easily refrigerated than a glass bottle.

Cantina Soave launched Slim, an ultra light bottle made 90% of recycled glass, while recycled and bio-degradable labels are spreading as well.

Janice Jones, in an article that appeared in Sierra Sun, suggests how recycling corks should be a more widespread practice, as they can be used to produce other materials like flooring, cork paneling, fishing rod handles, shoe soles, bulletin boards, soil conditioners and home insulation. In particular she highlights

Two cork recyclers that will accept real corks sent to them are: Yemm & Hart Ltd., 425 No. Chamber Dr., Fredricktown, MO., 63645. Just pop the corks in an envelope and send them off to another life. Locally, you can bring your corks to Whole Foods in Reno, where Re Cork America has set up a recycling barrel for corks that are sent to Amorim Cork America and re-manufactured. Remember, only natural corks are recyclable.

Oregon Certified Sustainable Wine (OCSW), offers certifications to those wineries which commit to responsible, sustainable vineyard and winery practices. In particular

The OCSW logo on a bottle label guarantees that consumers are drinking wine crafted using responsible agriculture and winemaking practices; and that both of those processes were certified by an independent third-party, according to Ted Farthing, executive director of the Oregon Wine Board.

“The goal is to raise awareness and provide clarity and simplicity so that consumers interested in purchasing can easily and immediately identify these wines,” Farthing said.

Enjoy Responsibly!