Bonterra Organic Vineyards are harbingers of a new industry, a winery that honors the past but also recognizes the flaws in the old, staid system. Their focus is on great wine with a commitment to sustainability. Bonterra vintners create wines using organic grapes and biodynamic farming. Now, for the casual wine drinker, these may seem like marketing buzzwords, but Bonterra treats viticulture as not taking from the Earth but sustaining it. Biodynamic farming transcends standard organic labeling, employing natural growing methods such as planting native flowers proximal to the vines attracting beneficial insects, inviting chickens into the vineyard to manage pests, and using sheep to mow down the grass between the vines. The flora and fauna are symbiotically used to create great tasting wines and regenerative vineyards ensuring the quality of future harvests.
Bonterra Merlot ($16) Bonterra Vintners have created an excellent Merlot in separately fermented lots that undergo full malolactic fermentation prior to the final blending with a trace of Petit Sirah and Malbec. The separate malolactic fermentation in steel tanks allows the wine to develop its full expression and softens the mouthfeel before the final blending. The wine is aged for eighteen months in French and American oak barrels giving the wine an aroma of black cherry and currant and flavors of smoky oak, cherry, plum, and vanilla.
Bonterra Sauvignon Blanc ($14) Bonterra’s Sauvignon Blanc reflects the vintner’s commitment to sustainability and New World style. The grapes, harvested at a variety of sugar levels from Lake, Mendocino, and Sonoma counties, are cluster pressed to create a layered flavor profile. The wine is next cold-fermented in stainless steel tanks which preserves the crisp fruit notes of grapefruit, lime zest, kiwi, and fresh meadow grass.
And available to go…
Young Red Cans (4-pack $17.99) Bonterra’s signature Young Red is now available in 4-packs of 250ml cans-perfect portions and conveniently portable. These cans are a great addition to a backpack, enjoyed post hiking, skiing, or a day at the beach. Young Red is derived from Bonterra’s celebrated Rosé with a trace of Malbec added to enhance the substance of the wine. The wine is fermented in barrels then stored in stainless steel which preserves the crisp, fresh character of the wine. The wine resonates with rose, fresh fig, berries, and orange peel leading to a flavor profile of raspberries, watermelon rind, and pomegranate. Young Red’s crisp flavor and light taste make it a wine best served chilled.
Bonterra Wine in cans
Bonterra Wines showcase the possibility and the future of viticulture. Winemaking does not have to be solely focused: it can be a creative expression of the vintner and a commitment to land sustainability.
Bonterra employs tested organic and biodynamic farming methods to produce a remarkable variety of wines with a focus on the land the grapes are grown. This commitment to excellence and sustainability ensures the quality and future of their wines and serves as an imitable example to established and aspiring winemakers.
For more information on the wines, tasting notes and a very cool blog, go to Bonterra.com
