organic

First Bordeaux Producers Certified Organic

Filed under: Wine

The year 1855 turns out to have been a very green year for wine. Two Bordeaux estates that gained classification status that year are the first of the "Growth Estates" to gain 21st century organic certification.

First growth Chateaux Guiraud (Sauterne) and Fifth Growth Chateau Pontet-Canet (Pauillac) were each recognized by France's Agence Bio (AB) as certifiably organic producers, the former beginning with its 2011 vintage and the latter beginning with its 2010 wines.

Depending on the vintage, Guiraud's wines are priced from two to four digits per bottle, with an average across vintages of $45 to $121. With one exception, Pontet-Canet bottle prices have generally been in the triple digits with an average across vintages of $62 to $172.

The two venerable Bordeaux wine producers of the Gironde River area were inducted into the original 1855 Bordeaux classification under different names. In 1766, a merchant named Pierre Guiraud bought La Maison Noble du Bayle, which was the estate's name when it achieved First Growth status for white wine. Originally named Canet, Pontet-Canet was established in the early 18th century by Jean-François de Pontet, royal governor of the Médoc. Canet gained Fifth Growth status for red wine.

Gallery: First Bordeaux Estates To Certify "Organic."

Tags: bordeaux, Chateau Guiraud, Chateau Pontet-Canet, organic, wine

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Lion's Pride Whiskey First Chicago Distilled Since Prohibition

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

The first whiskey legally produced in Chicago since Prohibition will be available just in Midway this year, but it will get distribution beyond Illinois in the New Year.

Launched November 6, Lion's Pride Organic Whiskey, distilled at Koval Distillery in Ravenswood, comes in four single-grain expressions: rye, oat, dark rye and dark oat. Price is $48.00 for a 750 ml bottle.

Named in honor of Lion Birnecker, the son of Koval's owners Sonat and Robert Birnecker, Lion's Pride joins a line of vodka, liqueurs and other spirits made in the Birneckers' copper still.

Tags: alcohol, Lions Pride whiskey, liquor, organic, organic liquor, organic whiskey, rye whiskey, whiskey, whisky

Moon Mountain Organic Artisan Vodka

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

The production processes for wines and spirits are about as different as night and day. Moon Mountain, however, seeks to bridge that divide with their new organic artisanal vodka.

Master distiller Gerry Webb dreamed up the vodka upon visiting the Moon Mountain Vineyard in Sonoma County, determined to apply the same craftsmanship and attention to detail to a distilled spirit. He then set about setting up small-batch, copper-pot distillation in the Midwest, made from grains grown in Minnesota and Indiana and bottling it at the latter as well.

The result is said to be exceptionally smooth and delicate, now hitting shelves nationwide with a suggested retail price of $19.99. Visit MoonMountainVodka.com for more information.

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Tags: artisan, artisanal, moon mountain, moon mountain vodka, organic, vodka

Laila Ali Launches Skincare, Haircare, Fragrances Line

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance, Green, Celebrity Design

Laila Ali Launches Skincare, Haircare, Fragrances Line

Boxing beauty, famous daughter, and singer Laila Ali now has a full line of beauty products -- skincare (Global Complexion), haircare (Global Texture), and fragrances for women (Laila), and men (KO). The line is affordable and strives to be eco-friendly, two things that don't always go hand in hand.

Both the skincare and haircare lines are made with a blend of sulfate- and paraben-free ingredients combined with exclusive Derm Essential moisturizers. Plant derivatives, plant-based compounds, and sea kelp extracts are used for the line's essential oils instead of oils derived from animal products. Organic, hypoallergenic, wrapped in recyclable packaging, and designed for daily use. All products in both lines are $13 each.

Fragrances are $40 for women and $47 for men. Both are a 3.4 oz. EDT spray.

Tags: celebrities, celebrity, fragrance, green, haircare, Laila Ali, organic, perfume, skincare

Jute and Jackfruit Organic Clothing, Jewelry, Handbags

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Handbags, Jewelry, Green

It wasn't all that long ago when "organic" apparel and accessories conjured up ideas of wearing a burlap sack, carrying a rag wrapped around a stick for a purse, and wearing a twig necklace. But in the last few years, the organic way of life has spread like wildfire -- even to upscale clothing. My sister told me about Jute and Jackfruit, an online company that offers eco-fashion and organic, designer, women's items that are ethically made, hand-crafted, made in USA, and fair trade. The site offers clothing, jewelry, and handbags that include luxury eco-fabrics and up-cycled materials. Gift certificates are available too.

Gallery: Jute and Jackfruit Organic Clothing, Jewelry, Handbags

Tags: clothing, fair trade, handbag, handbags, jewelry, Jute and Jackfruit, organic

Kanon Organic Vodka from the King of Sweden's Distillery

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Green

New to these shores, Kanon Organic Vodka is a Swedish spirit from Gripsholm Distillery, founded by King Karl IX of Sweden, which has been producing organic vodka for over 400 years. Forsaking charcoal filtering and multiple distillation, the distillery uses local organic wheat and untouched spring water for a subtle, natural flavor without the usual vodka burn.

Gripsholm is the only EU and US certified organic distillery in Sweden. Once the king's cannon maker in the late 16th century (hence the vodka's name), Gripsholm started supplying vodka to the foundry workers and people in the surrounding area. With its 29 pot-still pans, 280 workers and a production of over a million liters of vodka annually, Gripsholm was once the largest distillery in Sweden.

Kanon is distilled from locally grown organic wheat in a continuous process without the use of environmentally harmful or genetically modified additives. The whole setup is eco-friendly; the distillery is run on wind and water power and all by-products are renewed. Even the attractive bottle is made from 60% recycled glass. Now available in New York at Morgan's hotels, Kanon will be launching in Los Angeles in January 2011.

Gallery: Kanon Organic Vodka

Tags: distillery, eco-friendly, organic, organic spirits, organic vodka, royalty, spirits, Sweden, vodka

Rohan Marley's Mystic Morning Coffee

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Celebrity Design

Rohan Marley -- son of Bob Marley -- founded Marley Coffee partly to honor his father's memory.

"Bob Marley had always said he would return to farming one day," says the Marley Coffee website, "but his destiny was filled with the passion for music, and he never had the chance. With Marley Coffee, Bob's son, Rohan and friend Shane Whittle fulfill this dream and offers his family's treasures to the world."

The Marley Coffee farm is a 52 acre private estate in the lush Blue Mountains of Jamaica. Each bean is sustainably grown, ethically farmed and organic. Marley blends them into delicious brews like the sultry and sweet Jammin Java, One Love -- their floral and brightly acidic import from Ethiopia, "the birthplace of coffee," and Mystic Morning, which is full bodied and particularly divine through a French press.

Marley Coffee also happens to have another kind of character; the Marley Coffee Foundation provides soccer fields and camps to coffee-producing communities around the world, and every bag of beans you buy helps support their mission. If you're going to drink coffee, and I certainly am, why not take your habit a step beyond fair trade and actually do good with your addiciton?

Just pour yourself a cup, put on "Three Little Birds" by his father Bob and try to be in a bad mood. I challenge you.

Tags: bob marley, gourmet coffee, marley coffee, organic, rohan marley

BIO Attitude Certified Organic Cognac

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Green

Preiss Imports, one of the nation's leading importers of specialty spirits and craft beer, has announced the impending release of BIO Attitude, Léopold Gourmel's new 100% certified organic cognac.

Gourmel is the creator of this new cognac category and aims to set a benchmark in terms of naturally-produced cognac. BIO Attitude received an approval from ECOCERT, France's organic certification agency, on the full process from the vineyard, wine cellar, distillation and aging to bottling.

Gourmel's process completely excludes the use of chemicals, pesticides and fertilizers, other than natural ones; in effect a return to the way cognac was made centuries ago before the advent of the machine age.

Gourmel's objective is to develop micro organic activity in the soil with green fertilizer, natural predators, and compost all working together. BIO Attitude is a young, refreshing cognac with a hue of cherry flowers during the April blossom. The delicate fresh notes offer a lingering finish of vanilla and fresh nuts.

Since its creation in 1972, Léopold Gourmel has chosen to respect the natural link between the roots and the bottle, and offers a non-standardized product; in their words, a cognac that is "alive". BIO Attitude is a fitting extension of this admirable philosophy.

Gourmel's vineyards maintain deep roots revealing a vertical minerality, absolute respect of each vintage, careful selection of extra fine grain un-toasted French oak casks, and absolutely no additives or artificial coloring. The BIO Attitude bottling is priced at $59.99 per 750 ml.

Tags: brandy, cognac, France, organic, spirits

Washington Winery Gets Into The Beef Business

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Wine, Green

The owners of the acclaimed Leonetti Cellar winery in Washington have announced plans to get into the cattle business. Although wine and beef may sound like completely opposite pursuits Chris Figgins, CEO and winemaker for Leonetti Cellar, says "The whole idea is contrary to modern beef production. We're taking the estate winery model and applying it to beef."

Figgins purchased a ranch in the Wallowa Valley with his father four years ago in order to raise Scottish Highland Cattle, which have longer hair and tend to be leaner than other breeds. The cattle are grass fed on certified organic fields without the use of hormones and will be harvested humanely. In another connection to the wine business, Figgins plans to feed the cattle pomace, which is the skin, pulp and other solid remains left after wine grapes are crushed. The meat will be available via mailing list beginning this fall through the Lostine Cattle Company website.

Tags: beef, grass fed beef, leonetti cellar, lostline cattle company, organic, washington, wine, winery

VivaTerra's Loose Leaf and Blooming Teas Gift Box

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Green

Whether you're a tea drinker yourself or just like to have it on hand to offer friends and family, this Loose Leaf and Blooming Teas gift box from VivaTerra is a beautiful and elegant way to store and serve hot tea. The box is made of sustainable wood and comes filled with six varieties (two of each makes twelve) of tea, with some herbal tea blends and some handwoven blooming teas that open into pretty flowers when placed in hot water to steep. All the teas are all stored in individual cleartop tins and refills are available. $69

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Tags: dining, gifts, hot drinks, HotDrinks, organic, tea, vivaterra

Eco-Minded Hotel Builds Organic Gingerbread House

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Yesterday I mentioned the gingerbread White House but it's not the only impressive gingerbread house around this holiday season. The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte, a new LEED®-built hotel, is keeping up its green theme with an all-organic Gingerbread House. The architect-designed Green Gingerbread House was created by Chef Jon Farace and the culinary and engineering teams of The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte. The edible estate measures 10 feet high by 14 feet wide and is done in a Tudor architectural style. Design highlights include LED lights and a green "vegetated" moss roof inspired by the eco-minded roof of The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte. The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte's Green Gingerbread House complements the hotel's upcoming series of Holiday Teas, which will be offered within the hotel's residential-style 15th floor Living Room on December 12, 19 and 26.

Should you be inclined to make your own massive gingerbread house, the truly monumental ingredient list is after the jump.

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Tags: gingerbread house, GingerbreadHouse, organic, ritz-carlton, ritz-carlton charlotte, Ritz-carltonCharlotte

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Chicago French Market Brings La Campagne to Chicago's West Loop

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

There are more than a dozen Euro-inspired food markets in Chicago, but they're seasonal. If you wanted your favorite bottle of Brittany's cidre doux to keep you warm in December, you had to stock up on it in September. Good news, then, for the francophiles: with the opening of the open-year-round Chicago French Market on Thursday, December 3, that kind of unholy abstinence -- and planning ahead -- is no more.

Taking its place in the Metramarket in The Windy City's West Loop, the French Market will be the only 365-day, Euro-chic indoor purveyor. Offerings from local farms and artisanal shops include certified organic produce, meat, fish, bread, pastries, small batch cheeses and wines, and flowers. And don't forget the chocolates and Lavazza coffee. Prepared meals can also be had for when you want an evening in Provence without spending business-class fare.

Six days a week the 15,000-square-foot market will exist to serve you, and there's covered, ground-level parking to entice you further -- validated for an hour free if you spend $20. The adventure begins at 7:30 Thursday morning, just in time for a pain au chocolat and a cafe creme.

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Tags: chicago, chicago french market, ChicagoFrenchMarket, food, food-awards, french, luxist-awards, market, organic

PACT Luxury Makes You Feel Good

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Charity

To save the environment is to save your ass, and a new underwear company is making both more comfortable. PACT, which launched last month, integrates organic materials and a low-impact manufacturing, shipping and shopping process to deliver comfort and style ... but not at the expense of the rainforests and ozone layer. Premium organic is poised to become the next iteration of conspicuous luxury (if it's not there already), and hiding a PACT product under your jeans could someday supplant a Patek-clad wrist.

Well, maybe that's wishful thinking from an ol' tree-hugger, but there is no doubt that the premium associated with environmentally friendly products is already beginning to carve out its own space in the world of luxury products.

Manufactured in Turkey – from the farming of organic cotton to finished product, all within a 100-mile radius – PACT underwear requires a lower level of carbon emissions to produce, and every link in the supply chain, the company says, is certified to exceed the highest environmental standards. Where no certification exists, PACT uses social expectations as its benchmark (and not the expectations of a guy who clubs seals for sport). Packaging for shipping bags is compostable and encloses another bag, made from cloth scraps and reusable.
The company eschews filler, plastic and big cardboard boxes.

"We looked at underwear through the lens of 360º design," says Jeff Denby, PACT Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder. "Having fuseproject as an equity partner in PACT illuminates the fundamental importance of design to the PACT brand. Our collaboration is key to generating what we believe are the most innovative ideas at the intersection of business, design and sustainability."

Tags: conspicuous consumption, ConspicuousConsumption, environment, environmental, environmentalism, environmentallyfriendly, green, green clothing, GreenClothing, organic, organic clothing, organic cotton, OrganicClothing, OrganicCotton, organics, turkey, underwear

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Fruit Lab 100% Organic Liqueurs

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Green

Modern Spirits, makers of the TRU Organic line of spirits we wrote about last fall, has introduced Fruit Lab, a collection of artisanal, 100% organic liqueurs designed to facilitate making all-organic cocktails at home and in bars. The collection - which includes Citry (orange), Crism (hibiscus) and Theia (jasmine) - complements the growing number of organic vodkas, rums, gins and tequilas on the market.

"With Fruit Lab, we set out to bring the garden to the glass with whole, organic ingredients and complete hand processing for uncompromising quality," says Melkon Khosrovian, co-founder of Modern Spirits. Named after the company's Los Angeles production facility, "The Fruit Lab," where all TRU organic spirits are crafted, Fruit Lab Liqueurs are now available for $29 per 750ml bottle.

Citry combines the familiar aromas and flavors of fresh Valencia and naval oranges with the scent of Bergamot and sour orange. Crism is a powerful balance of the sweet-sour nature of hibiscus flowers with floral aromas and tangy berry flavors. Theia is described as "like a night garden infused with flowering jasmine" and makes a great champagne cocktail.

Similar to how TRU Organic Spirits plants a tree for every bottle sold, Fruit Lab will donate a percentage of proceeds to The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation, a San Diego-based nonprofit dedicated to planting edible, fruitful trees and plants to benefit needy populations and improve the surrounding air, soil, and water.

Tags: cocktails, Fruit Lab, FruitLab, liqueur, Los Angeles, LosAngeles, Modern Spirits, ModernSpirits, organic, tru organic spirits, TruOrganicSpirits

Organic Clothing With a Hint of Luxury

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Green

Lux Life Apparel recently launched an organic clothing site, Lux Green Living. (I know luxe is spelled with an "e," but this is how they spell it.) The site is just getting going, and for its first line is featuring Toggery by Kate D'Arcy, a simple, casual line with reasonable prices that the site calls "a fun, contemporary line that appeals to every body shape and is offered in all organic and sustainable luxurious fabrics." I saw only one item that cost more than $100. I randomly clicked on about 10 items, and all were made with bamboo or cotton, and some had Spandex. If you're looking for some light, breezy summer basics that are eco-friendly, this could be a place to start. See the gallery for a few items that caught my eye (too bad they don't come in petite sizes).

Gallery: Organic Clothing With a Hint of Luxury