VIV Says: Blog

It doesn’t get much more posh than dining on butter-poached lobster, braised veal cheeks and heirloom-tomato tartar in the intimate wine cellar at the St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach in Dana Point, CA. (Former President Bill Clinton, Julia Roberts, Barbra Streisand and John Travolta have all been guests here.) Each course was paired with a wine from Emiliana, a sustainable winery with vineyards throughout Chile’s winegrowing regions.

We loved the wines and we loved the idea that they were produced in ways that are environmentally sensitive. Sharron McCarthy, wine educator for the label, explained that the practices include powering tractors with biodiesel and producing the wines in adobe-style buildings constructed by local craftspeople from a mixture of clay and straw. What’s more, the wines are remarkably affordable: The Walnut Crest Sauvignon Blanc, which was seductively crisp, fragrant and fruity, can be had for a mere $8; the juicy Casablanca Valley Natura Chardonnay and the Colchagua Valley Natura Carmenere, a sultry, zesty red, are both made from organic grapes and each cost around $12. What’s your favorite wine find?