Does sustainability factor into your decision to visit a tasting room?
As I have been learning more about wine, one thing that has become important to me is a winery’s commitment to sustainability. I’m teaming up with SIP Certified to talk about one of their members: McIntyre Vineyards. (The original Instagram post was sponsored by SIP Certified.)
McIntyre Vineyards is a local winery that specializes in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands. Their vineyards are in the Santa Lucia Highlands and Arroyo Seco.
The owner of McIntyre Vineyards, Steve McIntyre, is an advocate for sustainable farming practices and is one of the founders of the Central Coast Vineyard Team and the SIP Certified program. I had a great time learning about their history directly from his daughter, General Manager Kristen McIntyre.
I loved learning about McIntyre Vineyards’ sustainable practices in the vineyard. For instance, they use raptor boxes to encourage birds of prey to settle and hunt vineyard pests. They grow natural crop cover to increase nitrogen in the soil and discourage weeds. I also learned they recently received a grant to plant Milkweed to encourage Monarch butterflies populations.
I tasted several of their wines including the Clair de Lune, a blend of Riesling and Gewurztraminer, the rosé, the Estate Chardonnay, the Pinot Noir, the Old Vine Estate Pinot Noir, and the Merlot.
The rosé was of Pinot Noir and from some of the oldest vines in the Santa Lucia Highlands planted in the 1970’s. I also learned that the grapes were picked at a champagne level Brix.
I also really enjoyed trying both of their styles of Pinot Noir. The first Pinot Noir was from Dijon Clone 777. I’m not familiar with a lot of the clones and it’s been interesting learning more about their history. I loved the second Pinot Noir, the Old Vine Estate and it was interesting to learn it isn’t grafted but grows on its own rootstock.
100% of McIntyre’s wine is SIP Certified and their vineyards are certified as well. I love their strong commitment to sustainability and their wine was fantastic too.
McIntyre Vineyards Tasting Studio
Carmel Crossroads
169 Crossroads Blvd
Carmel, CA 93923
Phone: (831) 626-6268
Website:www.mcintyrevineyards.com
Instagram: @tastemcintyre
