Press - Sustainable Vine Wine Tours

Sustainable Vine Wine Tours Press

SUNSET MAGAZINE

Travel Top 10- Spring Flings #1: Go wine Tasting

March, 2008

You thought the movie Sideways told you all you needed to know about Santa Barbara? You thought wrong. There is, for instance, the Sustainable Vine Wine Tour that we’re guessing you haven’t tried. The six-hour, behind-the-scenes look at organic winemaking might include a visit to Demetria Winery, lunch with the owners of Ampelos Cellars, and a grand finale at Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards, run by eco-minded wine pioneer Richard Sanford. Why it’s green: you learn about water-saving vineyard techniques and biodynamic practices. And the tour vans run on biodiesel, of course. Details: $125, including tastings, lunch, and transportation to and from the Santa Barbara area; reservations required; sustainablevine.com or 805-698-3911.

Broughton Quarterly

“A Taste of Green” by Matt Kettman

Summer 2008

Keep abreast of the appropriate astrological alignments. Bury manure-filled cow horns on strategic corners of your property during the autumnal equinox. Spray your crops with the ashes of dead animals to ward off future infestations Harvest your fruit only when the moon hits the right lunar phase.

No, these aren’t the mad machinations of a lone farming freak; they’re the basics of biodynamic agriculture, a method of sustainable farming that’s exploding in popularity worldwide, despite it’s seemingly wacky ways. And much like the move away from pesticides and toward organics, there’s no place biodynamics is catching on faster than in the vineyards of California.

Now, wine tasters in Santa Barbara County can meet the regions maverick makers of green wine-both those working in biodynamics and certified organics-thanks to a new company called Sustainable Vine Wine Tours. “We try to demystify the process,” says owner Bryan Hope, who founded the company after hearing about the organic techniques of long time local grape-grower and California Pinot Noir pioneer Richard Sanford.

“I started realizing that there is an interesting behind-the-scenes story,” says Hope, a casual surfer-type who had been working in the green building industry, “and that wine-making in general was unknown to the average wine drinker.” The more he started researching, the more he realized the potential for a unique tour, one unlike anything else in the wine country of Santa Barbara County. Since the first trip, Hope has developed a blossoming relationship with local growers, and his company has enjoyed packed tours to the greenest purveyors of red and white in the Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Rita Hills.

The early accolades are well deserved; his tours-conducted, of course, in a biodiesel-powered van- offer a more infinite, informative, and fun look at winemaking, giving behind-the-scenes insight into both age-old winemaking methods and the latest green-growing techniques. “On each tour, I try to go to at least one stop where you’re face to face with someone in a vineyard or in an actual winery,” explains Hope, who customizes tours by getting the low-down on who’s doing what and where each day. “So it’s more of a personal experience, not just standing three-deep at a tasting bar.” Everyday wine fans will come away with something more than just a midday buzz, and even the snobbiest wino in the group will learn something new. (Trust me, I’m that guy and I learned quite a bit.)

A typical tour starts around 10 am, when Hope picks you up at your hotel. Around 10:30 am, you’re cresting the San Marcos Pass on Highway 154 and dropping into the bucolic Santa Ynez Valley, where rolling hills studded with majestic oaks slide up toward Figueroa Mountain. By 11 am, you’re pulling into the first winery, which will be one of six that Sustainable Vine currently visits, including the Syrah masters at Beckmen Vineyards; the certified organic growers at Presidio Winery; and the provencial-themed Sunstone Winery, surrounded by one of the largest organic vineyards in Santa Barbara County.

But most tours start at the Demetria Estate, a biodynamic vineyard and winery hidden on winding back roads and open by appointment only. Run by charismatic John Zahoudanis, whose Greek heritage lives in his accent and zest for life. Demetria went biodynamic in 2005 and immediately noticed a positive change in their Rhone-based varietals. (They also make Pinot Noir Chardonnay sourced from other vineyards.) Zahoudanis, who chats with wine-sipping visitors in their kitchen before showing them into the tank room, is an ardent believer in the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, the Austrian who invented biodynamic agriculture in the 1920’s by treating farms as complete self-sufficient organisms.

Biodynamic praise (and Greek influence) also comes a few minutes down the road from the Santa Rita Hills appellation, where a former corporate businessman named Peter Work owns the uber-eco Ampelos Cellars (Ampelos means vine in Greek). Work, whose Danish and runs Ampelos with his American wife, Rebecca, and son, Don, gives a hands-on tour of his vineyard where irrigation is powered by gravity, insects are given sanctuary during vineyard operations, and all grape scraps are used as compost. The jovial Work will then sit down with tour goers under his big oak tree for a wine-saoked lunch from New Frontiers, a green-minded deli in nearby Solvang whose sandwiches are made from free-range poultry, wild caught fish, and organic veggies, and served in biodegradable packages.

For the last stop, Hope brings his guests back to where it all started: Alma Rosa Winery, run by Richard S anford, who was the first to plant Pinot Noir in the Santa Rita Hills, and became an eco-warrior long before it was fashionable. Like the other winemakers, Sanford has been supportive of Sustainabel Vine from the get-go. “[The winemakers] were stoked on the fact that what I wanted to do was in line with what they were doing,” says Hope, explaining that they wanted to be lighter on the land and more responsible in their agriculture.

But don’t just take Hope’s word for it. “I think that Bryan has done a tremendous job,” said Sanford recently, in between flight to wine dinners in Texas and Miami. “He’s done a great service by bringing awareness to alternative ways of being in agriculture sustainably and responsibly. And it’s very cool. It’s something we should all become aware of.”

SANTA YNEZ VALLEY JOURNAL

February 14, 2008

Sustainable Vine Wine Tours for Fun and Education

The name almost says it all. But for Sustainable Vine Wine Tours’ owner, Bryan Hope, the intention to strive for sustainability and the philosophy behind it provides his patrons with an all encompassing, unique experience that’s consciousness-soothing, eco-friendly, and informative for fledgling and seasoned oenophiles alike.

An environmental consultant by trade, Hope grew up in California influenced by the natural lifestyle. Earning degrees in environmental studies and geography from UCSB, Hope was environmentally conscious before the idea became a headline in the news, he said. After a brief stint as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design accredited consultant, and after working for Living Green Building Materials, Hope was inspired by the idea of a wine tour experience that focused exclusively on local growers and wineries practicing sustainable, organic and biodynamic growing procedures.

How to identify an organic winery and the definition of biodynamics are just a few of the things you learn while rolling through the Santa Ynez and Santa Rita Hills in a biodiesel-fueled Mercedes Benz van with Hope at the wheel. A self-taught guide of the Santa Ynez Valley’s eco-systems, Hope has spent the better part of the year since his business opened reading about the pioneers of sustainable viticulture and asking a lot of questions. “I’ve read a lot about Rudolph Steiner, an Austrian who wrote a series of lectures in the 1920s about biodynamic agriculture. People who grow grapes all over the world have been tracking his processes with great success, including growers here in the valley,” Hope said.

As many as three vineyards in Santa Ynez are certified organic by the USDA, but Hope explained that many more are growing organic – not for the certification, but because they want the advantage of producing a superior product. Some of the vineyards have adopted Steiner’s philosophy, which takes the organic approach one step further by encouraging a closed system called biodynamics, where livestock, cover crops and wildlife are encouraged to create a sustainable system including natural fertilizer and pest control. “Organic and biodynamic growing implies mindfulness, paying closer attention to the system as a whole. It is the difference between seeing the vineyard as an eco-system as opposed to a mono-crop,” Hope explained.

As a business owner, Hope has developed a two-fold purpose: to set an example as an environmentally sustainable business, and to exercise his role as a guide, informing interested parties of the practices of vintners who share three notable characteristics — remarkable wines, a high level of personal service, and a commitment to a higher degree of environmental stewardship. For $125, Hope’s tours include a day of picturesque scenery, an organic lunch provided by New Frontiers Natural Marketplace in Solvang, and wine tasting at three of the following: Alma Rosa (certified organic), Ampelos (biodynamic), Beckmen (biodynamic), Demetria (biodynamic), Presidio (certified organic and biodynamic), and Sunstone (certified organic) wineries. According to Hope, tours of some of these wineries are intensely personal forays into the hearts and minds of the owners and growers who work the land.

“My tours are a one-of-a-kind experience for anyone interested in a fun and informative tour that takes you off the beaten path. The winery owners and growers often take time out of their day to ensure the best experience for our groups,” Hope said. “What I find most interesting is the change in people’s demeanor over the course of the day. It’s partly because of the wine, but also because they have a better understanding of the simple, yet complex, process that goes into each bottle. It changes their experience of drinking wine,” Hope explained.

And just when you think this might be too much information about the intoxicating liquid swirling in your glass, Hope is keen to emphasize that his tours also are fun and relaxing. There is always the reprieve of a shady oak, the occasional hawk circling overhead, the warm afternoon breeze, and air-conditioned luxury for the sleepy ride home.

Los Angeles Times - Travel

GREEN WINE

Sunday, September 16, 2007 Here's a guilt-free trip for eco-conscious oenophiles: riding a biodiesel (soybean-powered) van to visit vineyards that practice organic and sustainable farming. A new Santa Barbara company called Sustainable Vine Wine Tours offers daylong outings to several wineries in the nearby Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Rita Hills. You meet the winemakers, sample their vintages and salve your conscience. The company donates 1% of the proceeds to environmental groups, said owner Bryan Hope, a "green" building consultant. The tour fee, $125 per person, includes pickup at the Amtrak station or your hotel, wine tastings and an organic picnic lunch. Reservations are required. (805) 698-3911, www.sustainablevine.com. - Jane Engle

Santa Barbara - The American Riviera

THE "ALMA" OF SANTA BARBARA WINE COUNTRY

2008 Visitors Magazine. "INSIDER TIP - ECO-CONSCIOUS WINE TOUR Sustainable Vine Wine Tours offers guided tours of organic and biodynamic wineries in a biodiesel-powered van. Tours give behind-the-scenes access to several wineries not generally open to the public and include an organic picnic lunch." Nancy Shobe

latimes.com (Los Angeles Times)

SANTA BARBARA: SUSTAINABLE WINE TOURS

There’s a new Mercedes in town, and it’s biodiesel. Sustainable Vine Wine Tours is a new attraction serving Santa Ynez vineyards that practice sustainable agriculture. Learn the difference between organic wine and wine made from organic grapes with a company that cares just as much about giving back as they do showing you a good time.The Deal: Get $20 off each $125 tour when you mention the Los Angeles Times. The five hour tour includes door-to-door pick up in Santa Barbara, wine tastings at each of the vineyards, and a gourmet organic picnic. The Deal: Get $20 off each $125 tour when you mention the Los Angeles Times. The five hour tour includes door–to–door pick up in Santa Barbara, wine tastings at each of the vineyards, and a gourmet organic picnic. When: Monday–Thursday until July 1, 2007 More…Details: Some of the vintners featured are Alma Rosa, Ampelos, Beckmen and Presidio. Why Go: To learn the meaning of big words like biodynamic agriculture. Why Not: You prefer to ride in a limo than a nine passenger Contact: Sustainable Vine Wine Tours, (805) 698-3911

Santa Barbara Independent

THE VIRTUE OF WINE TASTING: SUSTAINABLE VINE WINE TOURS OFFER ENVIRONMENTALISM DE LUXE

Thursday, July 5, 2007. By Hannah Tennant-Moore. At the risk of getting booed out of Santa Barbara, I have to admit I find it slightly irritating how "going green" is suddenly all the rage. Sure, I'm glad Coca-Cola is spending $20 million on water conservation and Leonardo DiCaprio has gone from starring in movies that destroy idyllic places to being one of Hollywood's top environmental activists, but I can't turn a blind eye to the obviously self-serving motivations behind these acts.

So when I heard about a new Santa Barbara company, Sustainable Vine Wine Tours - which, for $125, offers day tours of Santa Ynez Valley wineries engaging in sustainable agriculture?-?the cynic in me had to wonder just how driving to the countryside and drinking wine could be wholesome. But upon an invitation from founder Bryan Hope, I took the tour myself and came away feeling awed by Hope and the growers I met?-?and shockingly virtuous myself, considering I'd been drinking since 11 a.m. on what felt like a mini-vacation.

A fun-loving enviro himself, Hope has struck the perfect balance between luxury and sustainability. He offers door-to-door service, picking you up in a biodiesel van. He serves a gourmet lunch in a picture-perfect setting, with food from the environmentally conscious New Frontiers Natural Marketplace. He can easily run down the problems with ethanol as a potential oil substitute, and can just as easily list optimum growing conditions for pinot noir grapes. In fact, as soon as Hope was done explaining how to tell by sight a conventional vineyard from an organic or biodynamic one (sustainable growers allow vegetation between plants to grow free, so they can cut it and use it as a natural fertilizer), he passed out liability waivers and joked, "These say I'm not responsible for your drunken behavior. … We're here to have fun."

Our first stop was well off the beaten path, but would have been worth the drive even if it weren't through gorgeous countryside and accompanied by Bob Dylan tunes. At Demetria Estate, which has been a biodynamic vineyard since 2005, we sipped aromatic pinots as growers Michael B. Roth and Brandon Sparks-Gillis explained the principles of biodynamics. Based on Rudolf Steiner's philosophy that chemical farming is both spiritually and ecologically degrading, biodynamics is a holistic approach to farming that includes the use of an astrological calendar to determine optimum days for harvesting, planting, and tasting. As Sparks-Gillis put it, "It's just about paying a little more attention." Although Roth didn't argue with Hope that biodynamic agriculture produces a higher quality wine, he said that wasn't the main reason he did it. "I do it to feel good about myself," he said. After a tour of the cellar and an oaky taste of the pinot noir right out of the barrel, we heartily thanked the growers for their generous time and piled back in the van, enjoying the countryside and Jack Johnson music slightly more volubly than we had on the way there.

On to Beckmen Vineyards, which began implementing biodynamic growing practices about a year ago but has so far opted to forego the lengthy and expensive certification process. Beckmen's spicy syrah was one of the hits of the day, and while we oohed and ahhed over it, winemaker Mikael Sigouin explained how his plants have grown much taller since they began biodynamic practices. "It's like they've been eating right and doing yoga," he said. Still, he continued, this improvement is not immediately apparent to most American critics, who tend to prefer overpoweringly fruity wine. "But if we adhere to our principles, it will happen," he added, meaning critics will develop a taste for the subtler, more elegant flavor of biodynamic varieties.

Next, we enjoyed a sunny picnic lunch at a table nestled in the vines of Ampelos Cellars and Vineyard. Since owner Peter Work was in Greece, Hope filled us in on his generous practice of giving his growers their own piece of the vineyard and a vegetable garden on his property. "He really gets it," Hope said, "that if you treat people well, people will treat you well." As Hope served us our gourmet sandwiches and filled our glasses with Ampelos's refreshing rosé of syrah, it seemed he was speaking from personal experience.

Our last stop was Alma Rosa, the label wine guru Richard Sanford began in 2005 after leaving his namesake winery when his partners didn't wish to implement sustainable growing practices. The enormity of his sacrifice was immediately clear when we saw the small warehouse space serving as Alma Rosa's temporary tasting room. (They recently moved back to their original tasting room of Sideways fame.) But when Sanford himself joined us for our last glass of wine - I opted for a second splash of the crisp, citrus-y pinot gris - it was also clear his spirits remained high despite his recent business tumult. "It's great to bring people here," he said, swirling the deep red syrah in his glass. "There's such good wine [in this region], and it's good to make people happy." Everyone on the tour emphatically nodded in agreement.

4.1.1 To set up a Sustainable Vine Wine Tour tour, visit sustainablevine.com.

Destination Wine Country Magazine

FROM GRAPE TO GLASS

Summer 2007. Sustainable Vine Wine Tours offers guests a glimpse of organic and biodynamic vineyards and wineries throughout the Santa Ynez Valley. Participants travel in an environmentally conscious biodiesel-powered van to wineries such as Alma Rosa, Ampelos, Beckmen, and Presidio and learn about the winemaking process firsthand through discussions with winemakers and farmers. They are invited to taste delicious wines along the way and enjoy a delightful organic picnic lunch. In addition, Sustainable Vine donates one percent of all tour revenues to local environmental organizations and is a member for 1% for the Planet. Honoring the earth has never been so delightful. 805.698.3911, www.sustainablevine.com.

Santa Barbara Magazine

VALLEY BUZZ

August/September 2007. "Something new…For an eco-friendly twist on wine tasting in the valley, call Bryan Hope's Sustainable Vine Wine Tours (805)698-3911, sustainablevine.com. Trips support all-natural, sustainable vineyards and wineries - Alma Rosa, Ampelos, Beckmen, and Presidio are a few of his favorites - and are topped off with an organic lunch." - Brooke Comer

Whole Life Times Magazine

UNCORKING LOCAL WINE

September 2007. Thanks to Miles and Jack from Sideways, the last time you were in Santa Barbara wine country you might have spent an evening dining at The Hitching Post. Well this fall harvest season, be sure to add an eco-oriented wine tour to your agenda. Sustainable Vine will pick you up in a Mercedes Sprinter van (which runs 25mpg on biodiesel) and take you over the hills and across the river on a five-hour tour of the Santa Ynez region’s organic and biodynamic vineyards, including Alma Rose, Presidio and Beckmen Vineyards, among others. Spend the afternoon sipping your way through pinots and chardonnays while enjoying a sustainable agriculture education, walking the grounds and listening to grape growers as they share the valley’s history and their farm’s environmental practices. The tour includes a lunch of sandwiches, salads and salsa made to order from New Frontiers, a local marketplace. A percentage of tour fees are contributed to 1% For The Planet. 805.698.3911. SustainableVine.com. — Jenny Rough

Gentry Magazine

Excursions - The American Riviera

September 2007. "If your agenda has even more relaxing activities in mind, look no further than that 'Wine Country over the hill,' as Davaz calls Santa Barbara's burgeoning grape industry. Santa Barbara County's microclimate is ideal for growing amongst the lush Santa Maria Valley, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Rita Hills, and Los Alamos Valley. From inland fog to ocean breezes, the relatively cool Californian conditions are ideal for cultivation, particularly of chardonnay and pinot noir. And consider booking with Sustainable Vine Wine Tours, hopping into the company's biodiesel-powered Mercedes Sprinter van, and touring local wineries. Many winemakers in the area are leaning towards biodynamic techniques, meaning the grapes are farmed locally and production is as organic as possible, from harvest to the barrel. Demetria Estate, Beckman Vineyards, Ampelos, and Alma Rosa Winery and Vineyards were our group's appointment only stops that day. All specialize in progressive growing practices and can be found on the wine list at Bouchon, just one example of how much this

Pacific Coast Business Times

TOUR COMPANY SETS GREEN EXAMPLE WITH BIODIESEL VEHICLE

June 15-21, 2007 by Elizabeth Werhane Bryan Hope sometimes parks his billboard along the Santa Barbara waterfront. His Mercedes Sprinter biodiesel van advertises Sustainable Vine Wine Tours, which visits organic and biodynamic wineries in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Hope wants his new Santa Barbara based business, still less than six months old to be a "legitimately green business". He fuels the 10-passenger van with biodiesel, spreads out fair-labor, organic cotton tablecloths and napkins at lunch, contributes a portion of the tour fees to 1 Percent for the Planet, and serves lunches made with organic produce and natural meats.

"The Timing is really good", Hope said. "You can't go anywhere without green this and green that."

Hope isn't going green because it's in vogue. It's been a part of his lifestyle throughout a career that has included wording for Ventura-based Patagonia, an eco-tour company, a solar power company, and most recently, as a green building consultant. He's a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certified consultant. Hope graduated from University of California, Santa Barbara, in 1996 with degrees in Geography and Environmental Studies.

His biodiesel van attracts questions wherever Hope travels. Onlookers are interested in what they can see - the van's tall profile with a 6-foot ceiling - and what they can't. The biodiesel-powered vehicle gets 25 miles per gallon. Hope said that he can run an entire tour on less than a quarter tank of fuel.

On a recent afternoon at Goleta Beach, one passerby asked, "Do you have any beer tours?" But the lavender in the van's ash trays suggest it's not that sort of tour business.

For $125 per person, passengers get door-to-door service from Santa Barbara to the wine country with stops at three to four vineyards and wineries. Hope's preferred stops are at wineries that use organically or biodynamically grown fruit. Those include Buellton-based Sanford Winery (Not actually true, I go to Alma Rosa which is owned by the Sanford's. The Sanford Winery is no longer farming organically nor is it owned by the Sanford's.), Lompoc-based Ampelos Cellars and Vineyard, Presidio Vineyard and Winery and Gypsy Canyon Vineyards, as well as Los Olivos-based Beckmen Vineyards.

When Possible, passengers will visit the vineyard to see how the fruit is farmed, meet the winemaker and taste the wine that has yet to be released from the barrel. Hope said that winemakers have been "willing to go a little extra" in their hospitality toward his customers because of their shared interest in environmentally responsible business.

The tour fee includes a natural lunch from Solvang-based New Frontiers Natural Marketplace.

He hasn't overlooked the little touches. "I have an iPod with about 30 days worth of music", Hope said.

Hope admits his tour costs a bit more than some of his competitors. Wine Edventures advertises tours at $105 per person, and Cloud Climbers Jeep and Wine Tours list their rate as $110. Doing business green-style costs some green. "I spend more on a tour than my competition does, but I wouldn't do it any other way," Hope said.

If consumers want what Hope is offering, he plans to expand the business to include multiple vehicles and tour guides. He's mostly limited his marketing to word of mouth and his website, www.sustainablevine.com. He contacted the concierges of hotels in the area to let them know about his tours.

"Some people have this as a passion - being good environmental stewards," Hope said.

independent.com (Santa Barbara Independent)

LET THE SUSTAINABLE VINE WINE TOURS BEGIN

Thursday, May 17, 2007 By Martha Sadler. Bryan Hope has the biodeisel van, he’s done the research, he’s taken his friends on trial tours, and he announced on 5/17 that he is ready to start taking reservations for his new business, Sustainable Vine Wine Tours. (sustainablevine.com). Focusing on wines made from biodynamically grown and organically grown grapes, the UCSB grad’s door–to–door tours cover the Santa Ynez Valley and the Santa Rita hills. The price–$125–includes a free picnic lunch.

Nylon Magazine

THE GRAPES OF OUR CONTENT

November 2007 By Megan O'Grady. "SANTA BARBARA COUNTY - We meet Bryan Hope for a Sustainable Vine Wine Tour, a guided journey - complete with a biodiesel-powered van with a killer iPod - to some of the most innovative wineries in the Santa Ynez Valley and the Santa Rita Hills. Our first stop is Alma Rosa Winery (almarosawinery.com) immortalized in Sideways, when it was known as Sanford Winery. (Owner Richard Sanford broke away from his namesake winery to focus on organic growing techniques.) Certified organic grapes are grown without chemical pesticides; owl houses are built on the vineyards to disuade furry invaders. Note that an organically-grown grapes does not an organic wine make: truly organic wine doesn't contain sulfites or other preservatives and cannot be aged - and is thus quite rare. Our pick: the creamy, mineral 2005 Pinot Blanc.

Next up is Demetria (demetriaestate.com), a two-year-old winery that recently went biodynamic. Popular in Europe, biodynamic farming was developed by Rudolph Steiner (founder of the Waldorf Schools) in the 1920's to emphasize synchronicity with the cycles of nature. Sandra Zahoudanis, local bocce champion and co-owner, shows us around the estate, among the county's highest in elevation. Our pick: the 2005 Pinot Noir Cuvee Sandra, of course.

Our last stop: Ampelos (ampeloscellars.com), another new, family-run winery employing meticulous biodynamic farming methods. One vine at Ampelos provides enough fruit for about a bottle and a half of wine. Our pick: an unusually complex syrah-based rose. (sustainablevine.com)"

Horizon Air Magazine

ALL-SEASON SANTA BARBARA (ENJOYING THE AMERICAN RIVERA)

January 2008 By Laura Powell. "Wine Touring - During the past five years, Santa Barbara County has come into its own as a wine destination. While the county has more than 150 wineries, and wine has been copiously produced in the area for more than 20 years, Sideways put the area on the map for tourists in 2004. Nowdays, visitors can experience wine country via bicycle, limousine, jeep or biodiesel van.

Of course, if you really want to indulge in the fruit of the vine, it is best to leave the driving to someone else. The environmentally conscious can feel quite superior by taking a tour with Sustainable Vine Wine Tours. Our friendly driver (and company owner) Bryan Hope picked us up in his biodiesel-powered Mercedes Sprinter van. Our touring group then enjoyed the 45-minute ride into the Santa Ynez Valley before making the first of three stops at wineries that use organic and biodynamic methods in their grape growing and production.

At Demetria Estate, winemaker Michael Roth introduced us to the premise of biodynamics. This holistic approach to grape growing eschews the use of artificial chemicals. Instead, compost preparations made of natural items such as yarrow blossoms, chamomile, stinging nettle and valerian are used to fertilize the fields.

If the list of ingredients sound like a homeopathic pharmacy, it's no coincidence. Biodynamics-embracing viticulturists believe these preparations make the plants stronger and more resistant to disease. Accouding to the tasters in the group, the method also is good for the flavor of the wine.

Our group sampled five of Demetria's finest vintages, including a Chardonnay with citrus and green apple flavors, and an earthy, cherry Pinot Noir.

The next part of the tour was a drive through Ampelos Vineyards, whose grapes go to Ampelos Cellars, and also to vintners such as Brewer-Clifton, Jaffurs Winer Cellars and Samsara Wine.

Peter Work, who co-owns Ampelos with his wife, Rebecca, hopped into our van to provide interpretation. He seemed a little dry and scientific during the ride, but at lunch, it was a different story. We picnicked on locally produced organic fair in the vineyards, surrounded by grapes and two chocolate Labradors named Eros and Bacchus. The salads and sandwiches were made with ingredients such as locally grown heirloom tomatoes, field greens, and free-range chicken and artisanal cheeses. We ate on biodegradable plates, and with utensils made from potato starch, while enjoying a crisp Rose-Syrah.

During lunch, Peter - who hails from Denmark and is seemingly a highly practical and down-to-earth Nothern European academic type - suddenly started sounding downright Californian. He explained further details of biodynamics, which as best I could tell, involves planting and harvesting in accordance with astrological principles, the location of the moon relative to specific constellations and so forth.

You see, biodynamics, to paraphrase Peter, is like supercharged organic farming. It considers the land and growing cycles in the context of the wider patterns of lunar and cosic rhythms. Yes, the terminology does sound like it comes from the lyric sheet of Hair. However, Peter's dulcet Danish tones combined well with the wine, and suddenly, it all made perfect sense.

After lunch, we drove over to a warehouse in nearby Lompoc to visit the Ampelos Cellars tasting room. The Viognier 2006, Pinot Noir 2004 and 2005, and Syrache 2004 were big hits.

The peachy, tropical-flavored Viognier is made with handpicked grapes from a tiny California vineyard. The Pinot Noir has a good balance of fruit and tannins, and the Syrache is a Syrah-Grenache blend with flavors of cherries, white pears and blueberry/strawberry shortcake.

The third winery was Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards, located amid the rolling hills of the scenic Santa Ynez Valley and owned by Richard and Thekla Sanford. Richard, considered a pioneer in Santa Barbara County oenology, previously co-owned a different well-known vineyard, but in 2005 decided to start a smaller winery dedicated to organic growing methods.

He sometimes stops in at the tasting room to give visitors a talk on winemaking, and when he's not available, guests are well taken care of by Chris Burroughs, the tasting-room manager, who had a two-line speaking part in Sideways.

Alma Rosa specializes in crisp French-style Chardonnays, and supple and rich Pinot Noirs with a raspberry flavor.

After a six-hour day of sustainable sampling, we took the 40-minute ride back to Santa Barbara. Some members of the group dozed off, while the rest of us enjoyed the wine-country scenery."

Press Release : August 15, 2007

CELEBRATING BEING GREEN WITH SUSTAINABLE VINE WINE TOURS

SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. August 15, 2007 – With so many businesses "going green" these days, it's easy to question the validity of the term. What exactly makes a business green, and how do we know these actions are truly helping our environment? This may be difficult to measure, but one thing is for certain. The overall awareness and intent towards a greener planet is a step in the right direction. One prime example of a genuinely dedicated green business is the family owned and operated Sustainable Vine Wine Tours. While touring with their company, a customer can support alternative transportation, sustainable agriculture, and contribute to local environmental organizations, all while tasting excellent quality wines.

Sustainable Vine offers educational tours of the Santa Ynez Valley in an effort to promote sustainable agriculture and those businesses engaged in its practices. A day touring with the company leads you through the wine country in a 10-passenger Mercedes bio-diesel powered van. Stops include wineries such as Alma Rosa, Ampelos, Beckmen, Demetria, and Presidio, where you’ll visit with vineyard farmers and winemakers who passionately share their knowledge of organic and biodynamic farming. Peter Work, of Ampelos Cellars, comments, "I wouldn’t put synthetic chemicals in my morning coffee, so why would I want them in my wine?" His commitment to natural farming is helping to ensure the quality of the vineyard soil for generations to come.

As a member of 1% for the Planet, Sustainable Vine donates one percent of it’s revenues to local environmental organizations. In other words, each person who signs up for a tour is giving money directly to organizations like the Environmental Defense Council or Heal the Ocean. The company’s founder, Bryan Hope, says "I’m hopeful that consumers realize their level of power when it comes to a purchase, no matter how big or small."

Sustainable Vine operates scheduled tours out of the Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez areas, providing door-to-door transportation, tours and tastings at intimate quality wineries, and an organic picnic lunch set amongst the vineyards. The tour, along with the knowledge that you are supporting sustainable agriculture and a healthier planet, is one reason to celebrate being green.

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