How Green is Thy Vineyard

Shinn Estate Tops the Green Grid on Long Island

In the '80s we had big business; in the '90s, grunge. If anything can define the 2000s, it would have to be going green. Numerous industries across the U.S. have made exceptional strides in green efforts over the past 10 years, including the wine business.

While green practices are not a new idea, sustainability and biodynamics in farming have gradually taken a front seat in the industry. The Long Island leader of green practices is without a doubt Shinn Estate Vineyards in Mattituck, New York.

Husband and wife co-owners Barbara Shinn and David Page planted their first vines in 2000 and are dedicated to producing high quality wines that are as organic as possible. They are currently seeking organic and biodynamic certification, which will make Shinn Estate the first vintner on the East Coast so  certified. "I think that if we are going to be working on our farm and walking through our vineyards, we need to be as healthy as we possibly can," said Page. "The goal is to eliminate highly toxic substances from our day-to-day lives."

 In addition to running an organic and biodynamic vineyard, Shinn Estate also runs 100 percent of its energy on a combination of wind and solar technology. According to Page, "Solar and wind [are] equally important for the future of Long Island. There is a tremendous infrastructure here and we need to start to seek out an alternative to take a load off the grid, especially if we want to exist here for a longer period of time."

 Shinn Estate grows Bordeaux varietals – Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec for reds along with Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon for whites. The winery produces fewer than 5,000 cases per season and Shinn wines have been touted as some of the best on the North Fork. Here is a selection of their meticulously handcrafted wines. Cheers to great wine!

Wild Boar Doe –

This play-on-words wine is a playful palate pleaser containing all five Bordeaux varietals. With flavors of dark fruits and a hint of spice, this wine is easy drinking and will go well with pretty much any meat. $30 a bottle

Nine Barrel Reserve Merlot –

Blending Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, Shinn has deemed this “the crown jewel of our cellar.” Aged in French oak, the wine has flavors of dark berries and violets. $43 a bottle

“Haven” Sauvignon Blanc Semillon –

Estate grown Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon are used in this Bordeaux-style white. $36 per bottle

For more information, visit www.shinnestatevineyards.com.