In anticipation of the upcoming film Food, Inc, we’ve been busy blogging about issues of food safety, intensive farming, organic farming methods, and other food issues in our Hungry for Change segment. Part of sustainable agriculture practices is knowing where your food comes from (”sourcing” in food circles). While we’ve covered how to find where your food comes from, have you ever thought about where your wine comes from? Beer, wine, and liquor are all based on agricultural products - just like the things you eat.

Last weekend I took a day trip to the Santa Rita Hills in Santa Ynez wine country to pick pinot noir grapes at the exemplary Clos Pepe Vineyards. A lot of smaller vineyards and winemakers in wine country contact volunteers to help them harvest and crush. This provided a great opportunity to meet with other wine enthusiasts, get close to the land, and see how much of wine production is still handled by hand.

Like a lot of smaller vineyards and winemakers on the West Coast, Clos Pepe is a great model for sustainable wine making. The vineyard is managed according to strict sustainability and organic farming practices. Miniature sheep are used to keep the cover between rows trim while ‘fertilizing’ along the way and greyhounds are used to keep the farm clear of pesky rabbits and gophers. All grapes used in the wine are grown and crushed in the valley, so carbon emissions are kept low because the process is handled locally. Any practice that is not organic is so for a reason; for example, by using chemical pesticide instead of organic pesticide the vineyard is only required to run the tractor twice a growing season instead of well over 10. While the occasional chemical spray may not be the best for the soil, they help dramatically reduce the vineyard’s carbon footprint.

On top of everything, we had a chance on Saturday to work alongside Clos Pepe’s vineyard staff. Instead of hiring only part-time farm hands, the vineyard keeps three of it’s typically seasonal employees on staff year round. Unlike most farm workers, these employees have a guaranteed salary and medical benefits for them and their families.

Wine made so diligently doesn’t always come cheap, but it does come with the peace of mind knowing that the earth and the people that work it are protected.

takepart by buying according to Green LA’s Girl’s guide to organic California wines.
takepart and learn about the United Farm Worker’s Black Eagle wines that support farm worker families.