BY CHARLENE ROOKE
Earth Day, on April 22, is an occasion to stop and consider the everyday choices we make that can have global impacts. From craft artisans to large companies, drink makers are reimagining how beverage alcohol is produced. They’re mindfully farming the grains, grapes and other raw materials that make beverage alcohol. They’re powering stills and winemaking and brewing equipment with cleaner energy. They’re applying clever and efficient packaging designs that do less harm to the planet. Here are a few products from companies in British Columbia and around the world that are rethinking their impact on what we’re drinking.
Sustainable Farming: Grape & Grain to Glass Farmers serving the drinks industry make impactful choices, such as whether to use
Over half of Shelter Point’s 380-acre farm is natural woodland or wetland.
Montes Wines is a certified B Corporation.
chemical fertilizers and pesticides or to farm using organic practices. Mindful growers today eschew aggressively working the land for short-term yields in favour of gentler sustainable and regenerative practices, which nurture farmland for future generations. Mindful brands source raw materials locally to minimize transportation impacts. At Montes Wines in Chile, you might see sheep, lambs and llamas grazing, providing natural weed control in vineyards. Many Montes vineyards also have ground-cover crops between rows to reduce erosion and soil compaction. Montes’ wineries compost organic material, which they use to improve soil health. Where a farm is located also has a major impact. Patrick Evans founded Shelter Point Distillery 15 years ago to produce single malt whisky showcasing barley from his Vancouver Island farm, located south of Campbell River. Using the farm and distillery’s own barley to produce field-to-flask whisky is a rare practice that greatly minimizes the carbon footprint of global shipping.
Montes La Finca Clos D’Angel Cabernet Sauvignon $18.99 Chile 166342 Shelter Point Single Malt Canadian Whisky $77.99 BC Spirit 283499
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