2020 Jersey Girl Syrah | Food & Wine Magazine

RAY ISLE:

“More and more California winemakers and winery owners are consciously focusing on growing grapes and making wines in ways that benefit the environment rather than damage it further. I profiled many of these producers in my recent book The World in a Wineglass, along with others working in similar ways around the world. But every day the ranks seem to increase.

For wine lovers interested in tracking down these bottles, one handy tip is to look on a wine’s back label for a logo from one of the major certification programs like CCOF (California Certified Organic Farming), Demeter (biodynamic farming), or R.O.C. (regenerative organic certified).

There are also many other, regional sustainability certifications – for instance, Oregon Tilth, Napa Green, Lodi Rules — though their requirements for certification can vary dramatically. Regardless, the 15 wineries here are fighting the good fight for our planet, and making stellar wines as they do.

2020 Jada Jersey Girl Syrah ($72)

This powerful, intriguingly gamey red from Paso Robles uses grapes from Jada’s estate vineyards, which have been farmed organically since 2014, and certified organic through CCOF since 2022. The vines are located in Paso’s Willow Creek District, a cooler section of the area only 17 miles from the Pacific, which gives the wine a focus and tension that warmer parts of Paso don’t always supply; winemaker Nate Hall also uses small percentages of Viognier and Graciano harvested on the same day as the Syrah to add aromatic complexity and richness.”