Sustainable Wine: Southbrook Vineyards

Ange: So welcome to Legourmet TV. Today we’re talking about organic and green wines. I’m here Izzy Graham from Southbrook vineyard and she’s going to tell us what makes Southbrook a green winery. Izzy: Well first Angela, we manage our vineyards all organically and as of this harvest 2008, we will be certified organic in our winery. Next we are practicing biodynamic procedures with hopes to soon receive our certification there and then also our brand new facility is a Jack Diamond design. It is designed to meet Gold LEEDS standards, LEEDS being Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design. Ange: So, what you’re saying is Southbrook from the ground off is a green winery from the earth, what you do to the earth to how you maintain your buildings and how you deal with your people. It’s sort of an all around very green practice. Izzy: Absolutely, absolutely from everything out in the vineyards to even what we practice. The whole building at all times were running on 50 % energy. All the lights are on sensors so nothing is ever left on and it just run so smoothly. Ange: Excellent. So now we know that your LEEDS certified, may be you could say what that means. Izzy: That is Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design. Ange: And it’s a brand new building just been made this year. Izzy: Brand new building, we’ve just moved in there 3 weeks ago now. We love it to death. Ange: So how old is Southbrook? I know you mentioned that’s been around before the Niagara Lake. Izzy: Yes, early ‘80s up at Major Mackenzie. They’ve been around making very fine high quality wines since then. Ange: Wow. So what are we serving here? What can you tell me about this Sauvignon Blanc and the Cabernet Merlot Shiraz? Izzy: Okay first, brand new release from our winemaker Anne Sperling, is our 2007 Sauvignon Blanc. Incredibly fresh, wonderful acidity level, fabulous goose berry notes to it. And that’s 1895, just sold at the winery but then we do have our new release on the general list at the LCBO and that’s the 2006 Cabernet Merlot Shiraz and I like to call it my Christmas wine, it sounds fabulous spice notes to it, just like fruit cake at Christmas. Ange: And fabulous for the summer time too, great barbeque wine. Izzy: Fabulous for the summer, barbeque wine, we at Southbrook like to say it’s our dancing wine. It’s just perfect for dancing; you don’t have to pair it with food. Ange: So you can come down to the winery anytime you want, do a tour and a tasting. Izzy: Absolutely. Ange: I think 2008 is going to be fabulous year for you. We’re really looking forward to see what Southbrook can bring us from the winemaker to all the green aspects that are coming from we know within that local area so we applaud you for being LEEDS certified and cheers to green practices. Izzy: Cheers and thank you for coming here. Ange: Cheers!