Château de Caraguilhes Domaine de L’Olivette Red 2006

Vin de Pays des Côteaux de la Cabrerisse, Corbières, France
$20-23

Though winemaking has been around for thousands of years and is a very natural and organic process, modern winemaking is anything but.  From the pesticides in the farming, to the gas to run the tractor, to the manufacture of the glass bottles, to the global shipping engine, the wine on your table costs a lot more than the monetary price you paid for it at the store.

To be honest, it’s generally not something I think too much about.  But as Earth Day is here (April 22) I find myself reflecting on my wine choices. There are many ways to go ‘green’ with your wine selections: buy locally produced wine that doesn’t travel great distances, support producers that utilize organic practices, try wine in eco-friendly packaging – there are a few options you can easily slip into your life.

Château de Caraguilhes is ECOCERT designated (www.ecocert.com), ensuring that all grapes grown are completely organic.  No pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers were used in these vineyards – Ch. De Caraguilhes is the largest organic vineyard in the Corbières region.  Instead they utilize natural pest and weed control, along with polyculture practices.  This method of planting numerous plants other than vines in and around the vineyard improves biodiversity and healthy, self-sustaining vineyards.

Ok – all that is great and dandy – but what does it mean in your glass?  Let me put it this way – you can happily celebrate the earth year round with this wine.  A blend of Merlot (50%), Grenache (25%) and Syrah (25%), this humble Vin de Pays has concentrated aromas of cherry and spice, juicy flavours of plum and cherry, and spicy dark violet notes.  There is a cool hint of light mint in this soft, mouth filling wine, and bright acid and juicy fruit though to the finish.  This is a great wine for roasted poultry (free range of course).

* In the 12th Century, the monks of the Cistercian Order undertook the task of developing viniculture in the Corbières region. Recognizing the ideal grape growing conditions here, the hard working monks’ agricultural domains became very prosperous.  One of these domains was the lands of Caraguilhes – an area of 600 unbroken hectares that has remained intact to this day.

Rating:  (click here to see what our wine ratings mean)