As Rosé Season Heats Up, Learn About This Winery's Crusade To Change Farming Practices
On earth day 2024 I want to ask a pointed question: were you aware that each time you pull a natural cork from a bottle, you're helping to combat the global climate crisis? I want you to read that line again and let it sink in. Now let's zero in on a bottle of wine that takes the good work of the cork one step further. Enter RAEN Winery, based in the Sonoma Coast of California and owned by brothers Carlo & Dante Mondavi (yes, that Mondavi lineage.) The winery enters its 9th year of The Monarch Challenge, an initiative set to, "enlighten, encourage and connect our communities to farm and live in unison with nature and give back to the delicate circle of life."
With the seventh rosé release from The Monarch Challenge, as well as the growth of Monarch Tractor, the progress made from these initiatives has given RAEN a lot to be optimistic about. The future looks brighter, the chance of a cleaner and more fruitful planet grows each day. While there's much more work to do, it's clear that farmers are making informed decisions that promote healthy practices, and we have these initiatives to thank. The Monarch Challenge coupled with Amorim corks cannot go unnoticed; this collaboration highlights important work being done in vineyards and the cork oak forests.
Courtesy of RAEN
MK: How did the RAEN Monarch Challenge collaboration come about?
CARLO MONDAVI: The Monarch Challenge began as a movement to migrate away from harmful chemicals in agriculture like herbicides which harm our soils, waterways, our planets biodiversity and humanity as we know it... we now know what to do and the challenge is about doing those things that protect planet and humanity alike. The Monarch Challenge is a team effort with fellow activists, partners and winegrowers. Amorim has been such an incredible partner with us in The Monarch Challenge since day one. It takes this kind of team effort to impact change and make progress forward.
MK: Why is the RAEN's Monarch Challenge so perfectly aligned with Amorim's ethos?
PEDRO FERNANDES: At Amorim, our focus is promoting and protecting the natural resource of cork, which is directly related to The Monarch Challenge’s goal of restoring biodiversity to our planet. Many people don’t realize that the cork in their wine bottle is actually from the bark of a cork oak tree, which is expertly harvested about every nine years over the course of the tree’s 200-year lifespan. It is never cut down. Most of these trees exist in forests located exclusively in the Mediterranean Basin, which are home to more than 37 species of mammals, 160 species of birds and 24 species of reptiles and amphibians. These 2.2 million hectares of cork oak forests are recognized as one of the Earth’s 36 Biodiversity Hotspots, on par with the Amazon Rainforest, and serve as a barrier to desertification by improving organic matter in the soil and helping to regulate the hydrological cycles.
The wine industry fuels the cork industry, and makes the progression and preservation of the cork oak forest viable by contributing to the maintenance of forests and the populations that depend on them.
Courtesy of RAEN
MK: Are there any wine closures more sustainable than a 100% natural cork?
PEDRO FERNANDES: No, natural cork continues to be the most sustainable wine closure there is. For every 1 ton of cork harvested from the forest 73 tons of CO2 are sequestered from the atmosphere.This is a resource that renews itself in 9 year cycles with minimal to no human intervention. When you think of any alternative closure today that is sourced from mining activities or oil drilling I don’t believe that you need extensive understanding of sustainability metrics to comprehend that a natural, self renewable resource like cork is a much more sustainable solution.
MK: How effective is Amorim cork at offsetting carbon footprint?
PEDRO FERNANDES: Amorim has dedicated the past 154 years of business to the research and development of cork, bridging sustainability with technology. Taking into account the CO2 consumed by cork oaks, analyses of the manufacturing and distribution cycles of Amorim corks show that cork closures generate a significant retention of CO2. For example, a single cork in a bottle of RAEN’s Monarch Challenge Rosé is equivalent to 395g of CO2, which can contribute to the offset of CO2 emissions associated with the production of wine. How cool is it that at a time when most industries are aiming to become carbon neutral, we offer a product that is capable of offsetting carbon emissions and is already beyond the target of neutrality to begin with?
MK: Please set the record straight: is there a shortage of natural cork?
PEDRO FERNANDES: Not at all. According to recent forecasts, there’s enough cork in Portugal alone to meet market demand for the next 100 years. Given the importance of the cork oak forests for our global ecosystem—combating climate change, satisfying an increased demand for sustainable and renewable resources in alcoholic beverages, as well as other industries application—Amorim has invested in creating a forestry division, forestry research and planting more cork oak forests.
The 2023 Monarch Challenge Rosé is a unique, coastal blend coming from a special vineyard block of beautiful, old vine Grenache, married with our RAEN Pinot Noir lots, all hailing from organically farmed vineyards in line with the Monarch Challenge's goal of a cleaner, healthier, more brilliant planet. Vibrant aromas of fresh summer apricot, sun-kissed white peach, wild raspberry, and red grapefruit burst from the glass. On the palate, this coastal wine is incredibly lifted and bright, exuding flavors of stone fruit, flower petal, crushed rock and lemon zest, all held together with a racy acidity and a bright, lingering, mineral finish.
Vineyards: North Coast
Composition: 70% Grenache, 30% Pinot Noir
Farming: Organic, regenerative, and biodynamic practices Winemaking: Whole bunch pressed on a delicate press cycle Native fermentations in stainless steel, neutral oak & concrete vessels
Winemaker: Melanie McIntyre
Winegrower/Founder: Carlo Mondavi
550 cases produced
Click here to purchase a bottle of 2023 The Monarch Challenge Rosé
