Sustainable Wining & Dining at Winterlust

When you think about the environmental footprint of your consumption, the chances are that the effects of the wine you choose for dinner don't come to mind first. You have probably noticed the growing popularity of organic or biodynamic wines on the shelf, but the extent to which that implies real sustainability depends on the vineyard.

The famous Kendall-Jackson Gardens

A recent article in the New York Times featured a few leading companies, suggesting Sonoma County pioneered wineries that put the planet first. As part of a larger agricultural push toward regenerative agriculture, the article identifies vineyards across Sonoma that have taken steps to sequester carbon and minimize greenhouse gas emissions. Their list starts with Kendall-Jackson, whose sustainability perspective is a 360 ° view that includes water conservation, solar energy, land conservation, and social practices like supporting over 50 nonprofits and offering a minimum wage of $ 15.

But there's one element of Kendall-Jackson's earth-centered approach that is unique to her: Tucker Taylor, Kendall-Jackson's Director of Culinary Gardens. With a background that spanned five years as a breeder for Thomas Keller's famous The French Laundry in the Napa Valley, he now runs the renowned Kendall-Jackson Gardens. These seven gardens, over four hectares in size, were awarded the Slow Food Snail in 2021 and supplied organic products to no fewer than 25 Michelin-starred restaurants.

Taylor's penchant for harvesting some of Northern California's more unusual foliage will benefit Winterlust guests in particular: Kendall-Jackson, who hosts the dining program at Wanderlust's first ever microfestival, has hired Taylor to contribute something very special Organic small radishes and Organic tatsoi (Microgreens) for the plant-oriented menu that you helped to create at Winterlust. You can be sure that these unique flavors will be wonderfully combined with selections handpicked by the KJ Wines team.

If you can't enjoy these specially crafted combinations with us in the Taos Ski Valley for winter fun, we've tapped Kendall-Jackson's experts for some “winter white” suggestions to make the most of the snowy season:

• Are you looking for a wine for a Christmas party that will please everyone? Arrival with Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay. A crowd puller for nearly three decades, this wine has been Kendall-Jackson's most popular wine. It's fruity, divinely complex, accessible, and exceptionally food-friendly.
• Does talking about snow make you shiver and dream of the tropics? Then Kendall-Jackson Grand Reserve Chardonnay is the winter white for you. This Santa Barbara Chardonnay is rich in tropical fruits, lemon, lime and floral aromas, a hint of vanilla and spices round off the finish. Hearty enough to pair with roasted winter root vegetables and more.
• If you have consecutive Christmas parties and want it easy, the new low-calorie Chardonnay from Kendall-Jackson is your wine of choice: light and balanced, delivers the quality you know and love, with just 85 calories and 3 grams of carbohydrates per serving.

When it comes to raising a glass this winter, it helps to look past the label to find out what your wine of choice is doing to get "back in the garden". In the words of Tucker Taylor, “For me (sustainability) is a practice, a way of life. I believe that sustainably grown grapes or any kind of product are not only better for the environment, but also for society. "