Sustainable Sippin’

Who cares how “good” the wine is?

Aaaaactually, a good bottle of wine does A LOT more than just make you look like the classiest cat in the room. Da’ boys at Clos Pepe get tipsy with us … and give us their pro tips to pick the best wine for your dollar (and your noggin).

Choosing Sustainable Wines

Why this matters

• Smaller wineries don’t add extra preservatives and stabilizers. Translation: less chance of hangover as long as, you know, you don’t drink the entire case.
• Small-time vintners are more invested in their land, and therefore treat it with plenty of TLC (and way fewer chems) to keep the soil quality high and the wine tasting better.
• Doing research to find the sustainable wine that you personally love is half the fun.

On a personal note

For years I thought that drinking a glass of water for every glass of wine to prevent a hangover was an old wives’ tale, but then last New Year’s Eve I had a riding competition the next day, and the trick worked like a charm (and although no ribbons, at least I stayed on my horse!).

Ready to try?

• Watch the episode for clarification on the certifications and first class tips from a real-live vintner and sommelier.
• Look for wines that are certified USDA Organic, Biodynamic or have sustainability certifications like SIP or LIVE.
• Download the Hello Vino app so you can simply scan the label for reviews and the need-to-know info on any bottle that catches your interest (and it’s free!).

A Deeper Dig

So you got a small taste of the famous Wes Hagen (the vintner) in this week’s episode, and for more of his “wine geekery” check out his weekly video blog on all things wine-related – including his take on organic, biodynamic and sustainable wine.

Fresh Pick

Setting up a fab guest room takes class… and here’s a little something hosts often forget: a bedside pitcher with drinking water. The Green Glass Company has made this gorgeous glass tumbler and cover out of a reclaimed Bordeaux bottle and a Creme de Menthe bottle — now that’s glass with class! ($28.50)

Did You Know?

Women are more susceptible to the effects of wine than men, partly because they have less of a certain alcohol metabolizing enzyme in their stomach linings?