You can toast to the health of your friends and Mother Earth if you green your guests’ glasses by serving organic or biodynamic wines. Michelle Kaufmann,  leading green architect and sustainable lifestyle expert, offers insight to what makes a wine green (hint: it's not the color of the grapes) and her favorite brands that comply in sustainability and great flavor.

Organic Wine
The grapes used in organic wine are grown the way nature intended (if nature also intended them to grow in perfectly straight rows along manmade trellises): without any chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides.

In order for a wine to meet the USDA’s definition of organic and become "certified" it must also include no added sulfites, though a certain amount of sulfites occur naturally in almost all wines.

The problem with following Uncle Sam’s definition is that adding sulfites to the mix is a mainstay in the production of almost all wine since sulfites are like vino Botox–they stop wine from spoiling and oxidizing as it ages. So if you’re looking for a "green" bottle of red or white, don’t write off wines that merely claim to be “made from organic grapes” –they’re still legit as far as Mother Nature is concerned.

Biodynamic Wine
Biodynamic farming is basically organic farming on steroids (figuratively speaking, of course). Sustainable vintner Jared Brandt of A Donkey and Goat Winery describes it as “a set of practices that focus on balancing the interrelationship of the soil, plants, and animals in a holistic fashion.” The philosophy holds that a farm or vineyard is not just a piece of arable land but one individual, unified organism and should be treated as such. That may sound a little esoteric, but the bottom line is that biodynamic practices are even better for the environment than organic and produce absolutely fantastic wines.

Earth-Friendly Wines Worth Trying
Believe it or not, earth-friendly wines are not relagated to specialty stores. Many of them are likely to be available at your neighborhood market. Try any of the following of Michelle's favorites to taste wines in their natural glory--and note that she included a few French wines for those living east of the Mississippi where, for the most part, the carbon footprint associated with importing European wines is actually less than it is for Californian varieties.

U.S. Wines
A Donkey and Goat Winery Brosseau Chardonnay
Bonterra Vineyards Cabernet Savignon
Benzinger Family Winery Jaoquin’s Inferno Zinfandel
Chiarello Vineyards Giana Zinfandel
Frey Vineyards Biodynamic Petite Sirah
Porter Creek Fiona Hill Pinot Noir

French Wines
M. Chapoutier Monier de la Sizeranne Hermitage
Nicholas Joly Les Clos Sacres Savennieres




Michelle Kaufmann (AIA, LEED® AP) is a leading green architect as well as a tireless advocate and knowledgeable source for eco-conscious living. In 2002, she founded Michelle Kaufmann Designs and began her effort to make thoughtful, sustainable design accessible to all--from her factory-built modular home designs to projects designing custom homes and holistic, green communities. Now, with the introduction of mkStudios, a collection of lifestyle media properties, products, and events, Michelle is broadening the reach of her work and inspiring individuals, families, and communities to create and enjoy sustainable lifestyles. Check out Michelle’s blog to keep up to date on the latest in green design and living.

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