America's Greenest Wine Region(SM) Celebrates Earth Day.UKIAH, Calif. -- Earth Day 2008 has special meaning for grapegrowers and winemakers in Mendocino, which will celebrate its status as "America's Greenest Wine Region(SM)". The slogan was formally adopted by the regions winegrowing community in late 2007 to reflect all that the vast and varied Northern California Northern California, sometimes referred to as NorCal, is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The region contains the San Francisco Bay Area, the state capital, Sacramento; as well as the substantial natural beauty of the redwood forests, the northern county offers those who seek environmentally healthy foods and beverages and accessible yet pristine pris·tine adj. 1. a. Remaining in a pure state; uncorrupted by civilization. b. Remaining free from dirt or decay; clean: pristine mountain snow. 2. travel destinations. "While other regions are scrambling to create self-certification programs and attending seminars on "going green", we're celebrating the fact that we were green before it became a marketing concept," said Ed Berry, Jr., chairman of the Mendocino Winegrape & Wine Commission. "Our grapegrowers and winemakers, like the rest of the farming community here, have personal ties to the land that sometimes spans four or five generations. It has always been about sustainability and ensuring that family farms are healthy for the present and future generations," he said. "America's Greenest Wine Region" reflects that Mendocino County's authentic "green" credentials are unsurpassed by any other wine region in the world. The region is dominated by family farmers, grapegrowers and winemakers, among them, who have been at the forefront of the sustainable, organic, biodynamic bi·o·dy·nam·ic adj. 1. Of or relating to the study of the effects of dynamic processes, such as motion or acceleration, on living organisms. 2. , and fish friendly farming movements. Mendocino County green highlights include: * Extensive organic, biodynamic and sustainable farming and food processing Food processing is the set of methods and techniques used to transform raw ingredients into food for consumption by humans or animals. The food processing industry utilises these processes. across all crops including winegrapes and wines * 18% of Mendocino County's winegrapes are certified See certification. organic (300% more than any other region) and more than 4% are Demeter certified Biodynamic[R] or pending Biodynamic certification * Legal protections for heritage crops: Mendocino is the first county in America to outlaw GMO's in unincorporated areas In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality. To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, i.e., a city or town with its own government. to ensure the continued viability of heritage crops and seeds (Measure H in 2004) * True wild places: no other wine region in the world has the thousands of acres of standing timber, watersheds and wild coastline that characterize the Mendocino County landscape * Just 19,274 acres, less than 1% of Mendocino's 2.4 million total acres, are under cultivation * Home of the only winery win·er·y n. pl. win·er·ies An establishment at which wine is made. Noun 1. winery - distillery where wine is made wine maker in the world to purchase 100% renewable (green) energy, such as solar, wind and geothermal ge·o·ther·mal also ge·o·ther·mic adj. Of or relating to the internal heat of the earth. ge , for all winery operations: received 2003 Governor's Award For Environmental and Economic Leadership * Home of the nation's first organic winery, founded in 1980 * Home of the nation's first solar-powered winery: today individual winery energy use is up to 100% solar * Home of the America's first carbon-neutral winery * Home of the wine industry's largest solar array, generating 1.1 million kilowatt hours Kil´o`watt` hour 1. (Elec.) A unit of work or energy equal to that done by one kilowatt acting for one hour; - approximately equal to 1.34 horse-power hour. Noun 1. of clean electricity annually and supplying 80% of the winery's electricity needs * Mendocino is recognized around the globe as one of the world's great travel destinations, a place for renewal and connection with fine locally produced foods and wines * Mendocino County growers and vintners are committed to sustainably farming and crafting winegrapes and wines that rival the best of the best from any wine region in the world Travel, lifestyle, epicurean and business editors can download press kit materials at: http://www.mendowine.com/pressroom/mediakit.shtml The Mendocino Winegrape & Wine Commission is an alliance of 72 wineries and 343 winegrape growers based in Mendocino County, California Mendocino County is a county located on the north coast of the U.S. state of California, north of the greater San Francisco Bay Area and west of the Central Valley. As of 2000, the population was 86,265. The county seat is Ukiah. . The Commission, founded in 2006, is dedicated to sharing knowledge of the singular attributes of the winegrapes, wines and wine estates of Mendocino County, America's Greenest Wine Region, with a diversity of audiences around the world. Also visit http://www.mendowine.com. |
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