Long practiced in Italy, France, and other Old World wine regions, the tradition of making sustainable wines is picking up speed in the United States, thanks to these innovative vineyards.

Benton-Lane Winery, Monroe, Oregon
This family-run winery is sustainably farmed and certified by LIVE, an Oregon-based organization that recognizes vineyards for environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic accountability. They were one of the first vineyards to control erosion and runoff from the vineyards to protect nearby salmon habitats. benton-lane.com

Bonterra Vineyards, Ukiah, California
Bonterra is one of the country's best-known organic wines made from 100 percent organic grapes (they also make one certified biodynamic wine). Birdhouses strategically placed around the vineyard attract swallows and bluebirds, which prey on unwanted insects, and chickens roam the rows of vines looking for cutworms and other tasty treats. bonterra.com

Brick House Vineyard, Newberg, Oregon
This nearly 30-acre winery in the Willamette Valley has been certified organic since it opened in 1990 and biodynamic since 2005. Winemaker/owner Doug Tunnell, a former CBS correspondent, makes at least four annual bottlings of pinot noir. brickhousewines.com

Coturri Winery, Glen Ellen, California
Every ingredient in Coturri wines is 100 percent organic, from the yeast used to start the fermentation to the grapes themselves. With no added sulfites, this wine is certified USDA organic, though you won't find the word "organic" anywhere on the bottle. coturriwinery.com

Fetzer Vineyards, Hopland, California
All 2,000 acres at this winery are certified organic. The company uses 100 percent renewable energy, bottles made from 40 percent recycled post-consumer glass, and case boxes made from 100 percent post-consumer cardboard. fetzer.com

Frey Vineyards, Redwood Valley, California
The oldest all-organic winery in the country produces certified USDA organic and biodynamic wines -- and they're vegan, too. (Frey uses bentonite clay to remove impurities instead of egg whites or gelatin.) freywine.com

Frog's Leap, Rutherford, California
In 1988, Frog's Leap became the first Napa vineyard to have its grapes certified as organic. Their winery is solar powered and geothermally cooled, and the grapes are grown with dry-farming methods, which save water and purportedly intensify the fruit's flavors. frogsleap.com

Will Amette Valley Vineyards, Turner, Oregon
In addition to running all their vehicles on biofuels, Willamette Valley is the first winery in the world to use corks from FSC-certified forests. willamettevalleyvineyards.com

See our favorite eco-friendly picks in 6 Eco-Wines To Try.
Learn more about the terms in Reading Eco-Wine Labels.

Text by Jaime Gross