With a growing number of wineries in the Dry Creek Valley embracing the wonders of biodynamic farming, an eco-conscious tour outfitter based in Petaluma recently unveiled a five-hour wine tour that pays special homage to this Earth-friendly way of operating business.
The company, Pure Luxury, dubs the new offering its “Eco Wine Tour.” OK, it’s not the snappiest name. But the itinerary is commendable.
According to the company Web site, trips visit three wineries overall: Quivira (where guests receive honey in addition to wine), Porter Creek and Montemaggiore (which is private and not usually open to the public).
For an additional fee, the tour also includes a picnic lunch at Montemaggiore, which usually comprises vegetables from the on-site garden and homemade pasta.
Customers can choose from a number of different vehicles for their tours—everything from towncars, vans, limousines and Chevrolet Suburbans. Still, according to Jennifer Buffo, the company’s COO, the vehicles are all “Flex-fuel,” which means they are designed to run on gasoline or a blend of up to 85 percent Ethanol.
Buffo adds that the company is part of the Green Ride Global (GRG) initiative, which means the company is committed to emissions reductions from all areas of business operations of 20 percent over the next 5 years.
“If every North American chauffeured ground transportation company committed to producing results similar to Pure Luxury’s, collectively the industry would be making a significant contribution toward the reversal of global warming by annually saving over 490,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases,” she said during a recent interview. “That’s the equivalent of removing 100,000 vehicles from the road, avoiding 1-million barrels of crude oil, and growing and protecting over 400,000 acres of carbon-absorbing forest.”
With prices starting at $119, this Pure Luxury offering is worth considering. Learn more at: http://pureluxury.com/eco_wine_tour.php.
