Earth Day;  a time to pull on the tie-dyed tee (the one with the peace sign)  slip on the Birks, and spin a few Donovan tunes (and say, good morning, starshine).

On the other hand, if you'd rather skip your inner Hippie ensemble and accompanying tunes, maybe a more sophisticated celebration is in order, like popping the cork on a sustainably-produced bottle of wine.

There are several 'green' agricultural buzzwords flying about the news these days, so you might be wondering, what exactly does 'sustainability' mean?

Sustainable farming is the return to more responsible farming techniques. In the 20th century, industrial agriculture was embraced as a way to grow food abundantly and cheaply in the US, and the big subsidies that the government provided for the nation's farmers helped cement the idea. Unfortunately, little attention was paid to what was happening to the land, the air and the water as a result of these practices.

At it's core, sustainable farming is about abundance without harm, preserving the land's viability for future generations, putting back what has been taken out, increasing biodiversity and reducing the carbon footprint on the environment. Quality and profitability, but not at the expense the land.  It's all about working with nature to recycle plant nutrients, eliminate erosion and soil depletion and conserve water.

There are many wineries that have either adopted this mindset into their vineyard management, or who have been practicing this way of life and farming all along. For instance:

Lange Twins: My favorite Lodi winery, the Lange family adheres to the Lodi Rules for Sustainability, strict growing standards designed to improve the environment, ecosystem and wine quality.   Additionally, the Langes have incorporated numerous sustainable practices including solar panels, nesting boxes for owls, birds and bats (nature's winged "pesticides"), cover crops and water conservation. More information can be found on their website: http://www.langetwins.com/
And for your Earth Day celebration? How about the Generations '08 Petit Verdot/Petite Sirah blend ($20) Your purple tie-dyed teeth will be the envy of your fellow Earth Day revelers...

Terry Hoage: 'Fastidious, sustainable farming practices produce exceptional fruit that is forward and focused.' I had to pleasure to chat with Terry and taste his fantastic wines at the Paso Grand Tasting Tour. As a former NFL defensive end, he's working harder than ever in his 'retirement', and has made huge strides in the winemaking community of Paso Robles in just the last eight years. He and his wife Jennifer settled in Paso Robles in 2002, and are now running the small production vineyard and winery just off Hwy 46 on the west side of town. The wines that I sampled were wonderful, or what Robert Parker described as "...the kind of wine the Central Coast should be producing more". And for your Earth Day sipper? Try "The Pick", an '07 Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre Rhone-style blend ($40). Soft, elegant fruit and a lingering finish, great with an heirloom pork tenderloin with a cornbread/dried fruit stuffing....

Kunde Estate: Located in the beautiful Valley of the Moon, Kunde estate has been a family affair for five generations. I got the chance to witness their sustainable farming practices during a hike through the vineyard one blustery spring day. http://www.kunde.com/sustainable_winegrowing/green_tours.asp They're committed to preserving the land for the next generation of winemakers. What to drink? How about the '08 Magnolia Lane Sauvignon Blanc ($15).  Light herbal and green notes, along with zippy citrus, served chilled with some prosciutto-wrapped grilled asparagus---

Cheers to yo' Mother...