Cheers to Eco-Friendly Wine Cellars

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Collecting wine is a passion for many people. And for those who are equally passionate about protecting the planet, the home they choose for their tasty investments can be a healthy green haven for those delectable reds and whites.

Eco-friendly wine cellars are popping up more than ever these days as homeowners strive to extend their environmentally conscious attitude to their wine storage options.

According to Brett Norris, regional design consultant with Wine Cellar Innovations, there are plenty of ways to ensure your cellar is in “grape shape.” He explains, “The redwood we use for the racks in our wine cellars is grown in sustainable forests, and the stain we use is water-based with an extremely low-VOC (volatile organic compound) content. We also use low-voltage LED lighting instead of halogens, which saves electricity and gives off less heat.”

Another eco-chic option when crafting your wine cellar is to use reclaimed wood taken from the tops and bottoms of old wine barrels to create a solid surface for flooring and tabletops. “Cork also works well, and since it is harvested from the bark of a tree, harvesting the entire tree is not required,” says Brett.

In addition to aesthetics, Brett also points out that the inner workings of a wine cellar can be “greened” as well. “Our company offers WineZone™ Refrigeration Systems which offer great protection for your wines and are also eco-friendly. These refrigeration systems cool the entire wine cellar, allowing large wine collections to age perfectly. We also have a refrigeration option available for our customers choosing to go geothermal with their whole house climate control system.”

Cory Lamp, owner of Redwood Wine Cellars in Chesterfield, also has his eye to the future where green is concerned. “In my business, I use farmed redwood that has fallen naturally to build my wine racks. My wood supplier would never cut down 150-year-old trees just to harvest their wood.” He adds that bamboo and natural cork are other good choices when choosing a sustainable and eco-elegant floor for your wine cellar. “Bamboo and cork are durable, long-lasting and easy to maintain,” he says, “in addition to being stylish and beautiful options.” Another eco-minded idea for your wine cellar is to incorporate repurposed materials, which are excellent for giving that Old-World, “been there for 100 years” look that many people strive for in their wine sanctuaries.

Mitch Meyer of Glen Carbon, Illinois has done just that, and quite extraordinarily. “My floor is laid with thinly sliced old brick,” she says, “and I’ve incorporated an eco-friendly candle chandelier. For my tasting table, I used an iron base and 2-inch thick planks cut from the 100-year-old reclaimed sugar pine that I used for the ceiling beams,” says Mitch. “My wine cellar is in my lower level, so I don’t have high ceilings or tons of space. Yet, by using natural stones, reclaimed woods and a little creativity, my cellar looks like it’s been there forever. And when you use authentic materials, you don’t have to rely on faux paint treatments to make your drywall, wood or stone look old. It’s more effective to use the real thing, and it’s certainly the greener option.”

How you choose to store and display your wine is a personal preference, and with a myriad of eco-fabulous options, originality is likely to bubble over in the design process. Whether your wine cellar is home to 700 bottles or 70, there are lots of ways to add a little green to all that red and white!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Sustainable Sips

Joe Kreps, on-premise director of sales for St. Louis for Glazer’s Midwest, one of the largest wine and spirit wholesalers in Missouri, offers some eco-tasty tips for choosing an earth-friendly vino. “Most wineries today are pesticide and fertilizer free,” says Joe, “which makes them good for the environment. One of the biggest players in the green field is the E. & J. Gallo Winery. Gallo leaves 50 percent of the land they purchase for vineyards as is, so as not to upset the eco-system.”

According to Joe, here are some other top wineries and their best-selling, totally organic wines:

True Earth Chardonnay
Made with grapes grown in California’s Mendocino County, these vineyards are California Certified Organic Farmer’s (CCOF) vineyards.
Retail price: $10.99

Trinity Oaks Pinot Noir
The Trinity Oaks Winery works closely with restaurants and retailers on the “Trees for the Future” or “Buy a bottle, Plant a tree” program. Their organic vineyards also adhere to the rules set up by the CCOF.
Retail price: $8.99

Benzinger Cabernet Sauvignon
The Benzinger Family Winery farms certified sustainable, organically grown or Biodynamic® grapes.
Retail price: $19.99

Natura Sauvignon Blanc
This Chilean wine is also made from organically grown or Biodynamic® grapes.
Retail price: $11.99

Bonterra Zinfandel
Also made from grapes grown in California’s Mendocino County, these vineyards are also certified organic.
Retail price: $15.99