YELLOW TAIL
Carbon-footprint-wise, there’s actually less C02 buried in a shipped bottle of Australian vino than in a trucked-in bottle of Californian. However, the grapes are grown conventionally, with chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizer. (A 2008 study by Pesticide Action Network Europe found every conventional wine tested contained pesticide residues at levels 230 times those allowed in Euro drinking water.) Its cultivation in a drought-plagued region adds to the wine’s already bloated water footprint despite the company’s rainwater collection efforts. $11.95/750ml
Score: N
FRENCH CROSS
This blended wine made with Canadian and mystery “international” grapes, then cellared in Canada, is kind of a throwback to the days before VQA (made with exclusively Ontario grapes) became chic. Regardless, it’s still the most popular Tetrapak wine. Hard to say what its carbon footprint is without knowing where the grapes come from. Yes, Tetrapaks are lightweight and therefore more efficient to truck than glass, but don’t be fooled – only the paper part is recycled in this province the plastic and aluminum get landfilled. Plus, the grapes are conventionally grown. $19.95/litre
Score: NN
FUZION ORGANIC
This Argentine winery happens to make the single most popular wine at the LCBO, but I strongly recommend bypassing its conventional bottles and instead spending an extra couple of bucks on the very affordable Fuzion Organic. Technically speaking, it may have a smaller carbon footprint than Bonterra (see below) even though it comes from further away, since it travels mostly by ship, but it spends time on trucks, too. $12.95/750ml
Score: NNNN
BONTERRA ORGANIC
This go-to for greenies is one of the few wines at the LCBO made with organic grapes, and says so on the label. (Many European organic wines, for instance Château Chavrignac’s, downplay their organic cred.) Owned by eco-conscious Fetzer, which is now owned by Concha y Toro, this bottle is a bit tipsy on the carbon scale, since it’s trucked in from California, but it offsets some of that by being bottled in thinner recycled glass. $18.95/750ml
Score: NNNN
SOUTHBROOK BIODYNAMIC
It doesn’t get any more sustainable, or scrumptious, than an organic locally grown vino sold in a largely recycled glass bottle (a rarity). Actually, it does. Southbrook is certified biodynamic, meaning the vineyard thrives on biodiversity and grapes are grown in accordance with the phases of the moon. It’s vegan, too. And this award-winning winery happens to be LEED Gold-certified. Its entry-level wine is pretty reasonably priced, given all that green cred. $15.95/750ml
Score: NNNNN
