7.27.2010

Green and Eco Friendly Wine Guide

Green Wine Guide: Solar-Powered Wine from Jacuzzi Vineyards and Cline Cellars

Jacuzzi Vineyards and Cline Cellars go beyond organic with 100-percent solar power and a flock of sheep to do their weeding.

By Jerry James Stone | Mon Jul 19, 2010 02:40

White Wine from Jacuzzi Family Vineyards

A Jacuzzi white for those hot summer days
Photo by Jaymi Heimbuch

While the name Jacuzzi is better known for its spa and hot tub fame, the family itself has a long history of innovation. They first made their mark with the construction of the very first enclosed-cabin monoplane during the 1900s. In 1925 they revolutionized California's orange grove industry (and the agricultural industry, for that matter) by creating the first submersible pump. From there it was just a hop, skip and a soak to the hydrotherapy tub...and then of course, hot tubs in the 1960s!

And Fred Cline, owner of Jacuzzi Family Vineyards and Cline Cellars, is an apple that doesn't fall from the tree. Cline started Cline Cellars in 1982 with a $9,000 inheritance from his grandfather, Valeriano Jacuzzi. Jacuzzi Family Vineyards came some twelve years later but the actual vineyard itself didn't break ground until 2005.

Cline Cellars has been practicing sustainable farming since 2000. The grapes are grown organically without the use of pesticides. The weeding is done by an army of sheep and goats who--called the Woolly Weeders--also, um, "fertilize" the fields. In 2005, over 2,000 high-capacity solar panels were installed providing 100-percent of the vineyards electricity.

Jacuzzi Family Vineyards Winemaker Charlie Tsegeletos Photo
Photo by Jaymi Heimbuch

But Charlie Tsegeletos explains, "You can make good wine organically, or you can make good wine conventionally farmed. We do it because we feel good about it." Organic farming means healthy soil and clean water systems. He boasts how their "dog can [safely] swim in the pond." And we'll drink to that!

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Wine Pairing + Recipes
Homemade Pizza with Caramelized Onions, Blue Cheese and Thyme
Chèvre-Stuffed Dates with Pomegranate Molasses and Chili Oil

Slideshows
A Green Wine Tour of Jacuzzi Family Vineyards
Solar-Powered Winemaking with Cline Cellars