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Organic, Eco-Friendly Wine … To Go!

calnaturale-in-glassesWe like organic. We like the earth. We like wine. So wine that’s organic and good to the earth? Well, that’s gonna get our attention. And although I’ve tried CalNaturale before, it was during a backpacking trip and — honestly — at a time when anything of sustenance tasted amazing (hiking all day will do that to you), not to mention the fact that my knowledge of wine was far less. (Not that it’s a ton now, but I have matured in my wine-loving days!) So trying it again, in the comfort of my home, which has showers and clean water and food and glassware? Heck to the yes.
And so CalNaturale sent this (glassware mine).
calnaturale-first
And a few things caught my eye right off the bat, besides these being organic and not in traditional glass bottles. (So light and unbreakable!) First, the little ones hold 2/3 of a bottle of wine, which is a nice size. Sometimes a bottle is just too much.
calnaturale-size
But, other times, a bottle just isn’t enough. The big ones hold 1 and 1/3 of a standard bottle. Genius.
calnaturale-size-2
Another thing that caught my eyeballs? PASO! The 2009 Cabernet Sauvingon is from my new favorite place. Ever. The 2010 Chardonnay is from Medocino, Calif. (Which I’m sure is great; I just haven’t been there and fallen head over heels in love with it yet.)
calnaturale-tetra
Lastly, the Tetra Pak is dang cool! Recyclable, these take far less energy to create and less energy to ship around the country. Score all around. (And for those who think boxed wine and the like aren’t cool, there’s a pretty big movement now of seriously good wine going sans glass for Mother Nature. Fun to see the industry changing!)
calnaturale-paso
I tasted the chardonnay first.
calnaturale-chardonnay
No fancy tools needed here — you just unscrew the lid! (And you can screw it back on later, which is a nice perk if you don’t finish the whole thing.)
calnaturale-lid
A bit lighter in color than most chardonnays, it was crisp, a little fruity and pretty light.
calnaturale-pouring-white
It wasn’t quite as buttery as I personally prefer my chardonnays to be, but it was very oak-y to me. A little too much oak, although definitely drinkable.
calnaturale-white
And then it was time to give the cab a go. (I switched to a stemless glass; didn’t want to push my luck. I have quite the record with busting wine glasses …)
calnaturale-red
Dark and rich, just like a cab should be.
calnaturale-pouring-cab
This one smelled heavenly and bold. Oh, so bold. And it had a LOVELY taste. Super dry, it was full-bodied, round and a little spicy with nice berry notes. I was a fan. I could taste the Paso!
calnaturale-cab-glass
Yeah, I’m going to go ahead and declare this tasting a success. While, I’m not sure I’d buy the chardonnay on the regular, I would definitely get the cab again. It’s really good — and both are SUPER affordable. We’re talking just $6.99 for the little one and $12.99 for the big one. Better than your average table wine for sure.
calnaturale-in-glasses
If you’re traveling, camping, tailgating, going on a picnic, throwing a party — doing anything really — these are a great option. You can find ’em at Whole Foods Market, Safeway, H.E.B. and Publix. Better for the earth, organic and delicious … what’s not to like?
calnaturale-red-white
When you buy wine, do you go for the organic brands? Ever think about all that darn glass from traditional bottles? —Jenn

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