Sustainability Can Be Part of Your Wine Drinking Experience Thanks to Blue Grouse Estate
Have you ever thought about the environmental impact the bottle of wine sitting on your counter has on our planet? Whether you drink wine or not, we all know someone who likes a glass of vino now and then (yes, including us) and there is a way to make purposeful wine selections that are kinder to the planet. We would like to highlight a company that we have gotten to know a little more over the years and share with you how they strive to accomplish sustainable practices at their vineyard. Let us introduce you to Blue Grouse Estate Winery, a 65 acre vineyard located in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island.
The moment you arrive at the Blue Grouse Estate you see beautiful landscaping, rolling hills and a stunning West Coast building. What you do not see is the thoughtfulness behind each decision made on the land, and on a daily basis. For Blue Grouse Estate, “sustainability in the winemaking process means a commitment to the environment, the craft and the consumers.” We wanted to share with you the ways Blue Grouse Estate is committed to a smaller carbon footprint and to being a model of sustainability to all visitors and members of the community.
Image Credit: Blue Grouse
Water conservation plays an essential role in practicing sustainability. The roads and parking areas at Blue Grouse have not been paved, allowing 5%-10% of rainwater runoff to soak into the ground and recharge the aquifer below the soil. The vineyard also has a man-made pond, which provides water for irrigation, acts as storm water collection and has become a thriving riparian zone. The pond is teeming with wildlife – birds, insects, snakes and frogs have established homes surrounding the pond. There are also 30 beehives pollinating the cover crops around the vines!
Let’s talk about the stunning west coast building! The Blue Grouse facility was conceived and constructed with sustainable elements in mind, and to aid in their goal of being “stewards of the land”. To reduce the production of greenhouse gasses to the environment, most construction materials were sourced locally in British Columbia. Placing the barrels and sparkling wine rooms downstairs, they take advantage of the Earth’s natural cooling abilities, reducing the need for cooling mechanisms. Blue Grouse Estate thoughtfully planned out the tasting rooms. Large windows have been strategically placed to capture the warming sun in the winter and overhangs create shade to help keep the building cool during the summer months.
Image Credit (Top & Bottom): Blue Grouse
From Vineyard work being done with as little intervention as possible, following the guidelines of organic farming, to the use of locally sourced bottles made with less glass, green practises are part of all stages of Blue Grouse’s wine production and shine through when guests taste their expressive cool climate wines. We would also like to highlight that most of their wines are vegan, which is really exciting to us because we are trying to move towards a vegan diet and we appreciate Blue Grouse taking that extra step.
Next time you are browsing the aisles, think about what bottle of wine might be a better choice for the plants, animals and people around you. We have been trying to make more thoughtful purchases, and our goal is to lead by example, so follow along and check out Blue Grouse Estate. Their wines are delicious and we could not be more pleased that we get to enjoy beautiful wines while also making good choices for our planet. We love sharing the ways companies are striving to become more sustainable and thoughtful with their practices.
Drink responsibly this holiday season or give the gift of local wine! Perhaps a Quill Q Red, one of favourites during the holidays. Quill Q Red is 75% Merlot, 11.5% Cabernet Franc & 13.5% Marechal Foch for $23.99, the perfect blend!
* Cover image credit: Blue Grouse.