One of the hallmarks of “green” winegrape growing—whether it’s organic, sustainable or biodynamic—is the exclusion of chemical pesticides from the vineyards.
Chile has been a leader in “green” winegrowing almost by default, and it has its unique geography to thank.
The country is 2,700 miles long, but its average width is only 110 miles, and it’s protected on all sides by natural barriers: the Patagonian ice fields to the south, the Atacama Desert (the world’s driest desert) to the north, the Andes Mountains to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west.
You can see a map of the country and its main winegrowing regions here.
Those natural barriers help keep Chile virtually free of pests, so there’s no need for pesticides.
And that makes “green” winegrowing a snap.
When buying wine, are you influenced by how its grapes were grown—organically, sustainably, etc.? Have you ever declined to buy a bottle because it wasn’t made in such a way? Please share your thoughts in the Comments box below.
