Help Plant a Tree While Enjoying Trinity Oaks Wines

I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that Bellinghamsters tend to be a bit more environmentally conscious than the average American. Admit it, you bring in your own shopping bags or choose paper over plastic at the grocery store, and you cringe at the thought of someone throwing away a bottle rather than recycling it.

That’s why I’m guessing that Bellingham wine drinkers might take an interest in Trinity Oaks’ one bottle = one tree promotion. Trinity Oaks is part of the wine portfolio of St. Helena, California’s Trinchero Family Estates, whose label you may have already seen in local wine shops and grocers.

The one bottle = one tree concept is simple. For every bottle of wine purchased, the winery will plant a tree, with no limit to the total number of plantings.

Of course, this cool idea would fall flat on its face if no one bought the wine. But as of mid-January, over three-quarters of a million trees have been planted, and with good reason; these wines are terrific. Even better, they’re value priced at only around $8 a bottle, and I’ve even seen them on sale at the Barkley Village Haggen for the mind-numbingly low price of about $6 each.

Of the six wines offered under the program I’ve tried three – the 2007 Pinot Grigio, the 2007 Pinot Noir, and the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon – are they’re all winners.

The pinot grigio is quite tropical, with beautiful aromas and flavors of fresh pineapple along with a dash of citrus, while the light bodied pinot noir suggest bright cherry and a slightly smoky finish. The cabernet has lovely, round flavors of berry and cherry with a touch of earthiness on the finish that gives it a nice, sultry quality.

So do the earth a favor. Go buy some Trinity Oaks wine and help plant a tree. And don’t forget to put the bottle in the recycling bin when you’re finished.