The Snowden Cousins, Diana, Christian, Susanne, and Carey present:
Santa Cruz Mountain Merlot
Few industries bear witness to climate change and global warming like grape-growing and winemaking. The biggest slice of the carbon pie for a winery is the wine bottle, accounting for 50%-70% of greenhouse gas emissions because of the tremendous amount of heat necessary to melt glass. But all glass bottles can be reused. Reuse of wine bottles is - and always has been - practiced in Europe and it can be in the USA as well! The Snowden family would like to be agents of positive change to reach Paris Agreement goals and zero emissions for our small, family-run business and for our clients. With the Snowden Cousins Santa Cruz Mountains Merlot, we're pushing the envelope on sustainable packaging: no metal capsule, a cork closure, and a washable label so that the glass bottle can be cleaned and refilled.
This wine was made from grapes purchased from the Zayante Vineyard, 2000 feet above sea level in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The vines are own-rooted, and dry-farmed using biodynamic practices - ticking all the boxes of sustainability. In the winery Diana used light-handed winemaking including native yeast fermentation, minimal sulphur addition, and no new oak to amplify the life force and unique expression of this stellar site.
To purchase wine, click here.
We are currently working on the logistics and incentives for our direct customers to return empty bottles. We'll have more information on this soon. To get news on the Snowden Cousins wine, related bottle reuse developments, and on all news and offers from Snowden Vineyards click here.
The success of this pilot will take your participation. Thank you for your interest!