September is California Wine Month, and SLO is a wine-producing region known for its whites and reds but is gaining a reputation for being green as well. Many of SLO’s wineries are Sustainability in Practice (SIP) Certified and receive this certification only after meeting a list of stringent criteria. Chamisal Vineyards has the distinction of being the first SIP-Certified winery and the first winery to plant grapevines in the Edna Valley nearly 50 years ago. Nearby Wolff Vineyards, a family-owned winery located minutes from downtown, is where enthusiasts can learn how the owners’ underground PVC irrigation project is saving at least 30 percent of water originally used. The aesthetically pleasing Tolosa Winery, which offers reservation-only barrel tastings, boasts a solar system that produces enough power to offset 90 to 95 percent of the winery’s electricity demand. Most wineries are open to the public or by appointment for tastings.
