For the past two nights, the hub and I have enjoyed putting to the test a bottle of organic Merlot, compliments of California-based, HALL Winery.

As we sipped and supped, I reflected on my informal tour of Napa a few years back.  It was in the spring and I couldn’t have imagined a finer time of year to traipse around this sweet valley.  Alongside three of my best gal pals, two of whom were very wine savvy, we managed to hit a few of Napa’s finest vineyards and also receive some heavenly spa treatments in and around Calistoga.

At that time, HALL was not on our short hit list, but now that I’ve tried their smooth and tasty Napa Valley Merlot (2006), I look forward to trying more, especially their Cabernet Sauvignon.  I’d also like to visit their state of the art facility in St. Helena — it’s the first winery in California to receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification by the U.S. Building Council’s LEED Green Building Rating System.

They specialize in Bordeaux — Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc — and they’re not what I’d call your typical table wines.  These wines are meticulously hand-sorted and finely crafted – designed to accompany you in life’s celebrations.  (The Cab ranges in price, beginning at $40/bottle, the Merlot, $28 and Sauvignon Blanc, $22.)

In fact, HALL will be presented the International Award of Excellence in Sustainable Winegrowing by the Botanical Research Institute of Texas on October 8, 2010.

As the company says, “HALL Wines are organically farmed with careful attention to the biodiversity of Napa Valley terroir. … (we’re a) 21st Century winery that employs organic small-vine viticulture, precision winemaking, wild yeast fermentation and micro-blocking-blending to fully extract the purity and quintessence of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.”

HALL now has six Napa Valley Estate Vineyards comprising over 500 planted acres in both Napa and Sonoma counties — organic certified by the California Certified Organic Farmers.

From now through the end of August, HALL St. Helena is offering complimentary LEED tours daily at 11am; by reservation @ 707.967.2626.  Or simply stop by for a visit or tasting — St. Helena is open every day 10a – 5:30p.

If you’re planning a trip to Napa, you might want to check out their 25-guest room property @ laresidence.com. more info @ hallwines.com.

Here I am in West Palm Beach and look what’s on the scene – the Palm Beach Navajo – local, handcrafted sandals made famous by the queen of iconic style, Jackie Kennedy.  An enduring classic, the Navajo line now includes the Key West, Newport, Kenya and Provence styles.  Just add over-sized shades, skinny slacks and channel that retro vibe.  …if only these kicks were more eco friendly :(

find ($96/pair) @ jackrogersusa.com

If you’re not keen on petroleum and corn doesn’t quite cut it, you just might be the next Joe driving a methane-fueled car. That’s right; according to one UK-based company, your car can run on, well, your waste. Yep, that kind of waste. The developer that’s created the odorless methane gas from human excrement promises the same vehicle performance you’re used to, and to prove it, they’ve created the Bio-Bug, a Volkswagen Beetle retrofitted to run on the green (in theory, not color) fuel.

Kick-started by a gasoline engine, the Bug shifts to methane as soon as the powertrain reaches a certain temperature. From there, it runs on the green gas until it’s depleted, and then conveniently switches back over to gasoline, ensuring that the driver isn’t stranded in the middle of nowhere. Crap.

Apparently, roughly 11,500 cars in Sweden are already running on biomethane. The Bio-Bug, which was debuted last week in England, is just one example of what sewer sludge conversion can achieve. For years, companies like GENeco have been powering plants and routing energy back to the grid. So that leaves only one question: Are you committed enough to drive a people-powered car?

You won’t find Better Homes and Gardens in any of my bookmark folders – but I do like their DIY instructional on repurposing a flea market chair into a shelf and towel rack which I came upon over at Recyclart.  Nice idea for that weekend country retreat of yours.