5 Ways to Celebrate the Holidays Sustainably

1. Choose sustainable wines from California!

We’re all about wine here, so obviously serving sustainable wine at your holiday parties is at the top of our list. But maybe you’re asking yourself, “Why is sustainable wine important?” California is a leader in sustainable winegrowing, which emphasizes conserving water, natural resources and wildlife habitats, while also protecting soil, air and water quality. Additionally, winemakers incorporate a range of practices that help make wineries economically viable and socially responsible. When wines are certified sustainable, you can have confidence that their producers have prioritized the environment, their communities and their teams — all without sacrificing quality.

So now that we’ve convinced you to choose a sustainable wine, you’re probably wondering how to find it. Thankfully, if you buy wine from California it’s easy to do. Did you know that more than 80% of wine from the Golden State is produced in a Certified California Sustainable winery? There are over 161 million bottles that bear the “Certified Sustainable” label on the back of the bottle! You can also use this handy tool to search for sustainable wineries, vineyards and wines. Other sustainable wine certifications to be on the lookout for are “SIP Certified,” “LODI RULES” and “Napa Green”.

2. Waste not.

According to Stanford University, Americans typically throw away 25% more trash during the holidays. When you add it all up, it amounts to a whopping 25 million tons of additional trash in the landfill. Though paper plates save time on washing up, make the holidays more sustainable by using reusable dishes, cutlery, napkins and tablecloths when serving your Thanksgiving feast. 

3. Embrace leftovers

Yeah, we know that there is only so much turkey a person can eat, but did you know that over 200 million pounds of turkey are tossed in the trash after Thanksgiving? To help prevent this (and other food waste) start early and make a plan. How many guests are you hosting? Who is bringing what? Use a tool like the Guestimator to help you decide how much food to prepare so you don’t end up with way too much (or too little).

And definitely plan to send guests home with leftovers in eco-friendly or reusable packages. Don’t forget that you can always repurpose leftovers into something fun and delicious like our Bubble and Squeak recipe.  

4. Look to nature for decorations

Make the holidays more sustainable by avoiding plastic and artificial flowers and decorations. Instead, add an arrangement or two of California Grown flowers to the table. You can also forage for evergreen stems or create a runner from fresh fruits and vegetables. 

5. Source your food and wine from local farmers, ranchers and vintners for a California-centric holiday

Of course, visiting the farmers’ market is a great way to ensure you are buying local, but there are plenty of California-grown choices in the supermarket too. Be sure to look for the CA GROWN license plate logo, or look for a “grown in the U.S.A.” label. California grows over 400 different crops, including berries, lettuce, grapes, sweet potatoes and more. Chances are if it was grown in the U.S., then it was grown in the Golden State. You can find out what’s in season here. Happily, because California boasts an incredible climate, there are many crops that are available year-round including strawberries, leafy greens, lemons, sweet potatoes, wine and artichokes!

Fun fact — did you know that the artichoke is California’s official state vegetable? Artichokes aren’t really a vegetable though, they are a perennial thistle — so they’re technically a flower. The edible part of the artichoke plant is actually a flower bud. California grows 100% of the domestic crop, so when you buy artichokes you can feel good about supporting California farming families.

Our recipe for Creamy Artichoke Soup would make a perfect starter for Thanksgiving, but we also like it for lunch too. It calls for canned artichoke hearts, which are a great pantry staple to always have on hand.

Transport your tastebuds to the California Central Coast with this easy artichoke hearts recipe inspired by the Creamy Artichoke Soup at the renowned  Shadowbrook Restaurant in Santa Cruz. This soup is rich and decadent with a luxurious mouthfeel but is quite possibly one of the easiest recipes for soup that you will ever cook at home.

It pairs beautifully with a glass of California Sauvignon Blanc or California Pinot Gris.