For grape growers, vino viticulturists, syrah sippers and green gods and goddesses, the day has come when wineries both domestic and foreign can compete for glory to bring us, the consumer, the best eco-friendly wines available. The Green Wine Competition has chosen its champions from over 271 entries originating in six states and eleven foreign countries within four categories: Class I - certified biodynamically grown; Class II - organic; Class III - transitional & third party certified; Class IV - natural (international imports only). With 153 award-winning bottles, broken up into gold, silver and bronze medals, and a shopping list to make your next selection of wine easier, the search for a fantastic bottle of green wine is bound to be simpler. (And in case you are wondering who took home the most medals, Bonterra Vineyards blew the competition away).

Grgich Hill Estates celebrated their 30th anniversary on July 4 with a unique production, their first biodynamically produced wine, a limited-production 2006 Sauvignon Blanc called Essence. An article in Wines and Vines reports that Grgich Hills owns 366 acres, which are all certified organic and farmed biodynamically. The Grgich Hills website has a great slideshow and FAQ on biodynamics. The process, which was derived from lectures by Rudolf Steiner is more than just going organic,although both practices use compost. Biodynamics treats the soils with a variety of preparations to bring microbial life and nutrients to the soil. The preparations seem a bit wacky at first and include cow manure packed in a cow how, a stag's bladder stuffed with yarrow flowers and stinging nettle tea. The planting, harvesting and other tasks are timed in harmony with the earth's natural cycles. How biodynamics works is a bit of a mystery but more and more wineries in the U.S. and in Europe are finding that it makes for better wines.

The grapes for the Essence wine were hand-harvested at night Sept. 13-22 so they arrived at the winery cool and intact and were aged for seven months in large oak casks. The wine has notes of citrus and kiwi with the classic Sauvignon Blanc minerality. It sells for around $40 and 374 cases were produced.

Parducci winery, part of the Mendocino Wine Company has announced that they are the first U.S. winery to achieve "carbon neutral status." Wine Business News reports that the winery partnered with the California Climate Action Registry to determine their carbon emissions and then took measures to both lessen and offset them. Mendocino Wine Company has had "mitigation" practices such as solar installation, switching to biodiesel in company vehicles and farm equipment, converting from incandescent to fluorescent lighting, and a local tree-planting program. The winery has also purchased carbon credits, supporting projects that focus on methane and biogas capture, wind power and forest projects within its own bioregion. Mendocino Wine Company's vineyards are also certified Biodynamic, Organic, or Fish Friendly Farming and the company's packaging uses tree-free and recycled papers printed with soy-based inks. The winery also participates in reduce-reuse programs including on-site vineyard composting, water conservation and water recycling projects. Want to celebrate Parducci's carbon neutral status, I recommend the 2004 True Grit, a fiesty Petite Sirah-based summer red that goes great with grilled foods. It sells for $24.99.