Heller and De Tierra salute Earth Day with inspired wine soirees.

Given all the bad treatment Pacha Mama gets, it's nice to see two local wineries toast her with class, character and (most importantly) good habits.

Heller Estate (659-6226) practiced organic growing far before it was cool.

Friday, April 22, it celebrates both Earth Day and 20 years of pesticide-free grape growing with a free noon-4pm April 22 tasting room open house complete with tastings, organic bites and a complimentary artist-designed 
Earth Day poster.

(The tasting room is the first you encounter in Carmel Valley, at 69 W. Carmel Valley Road, RSVP to 659-6220 requested.)

I asked Operations Manager Mary Roos how they could be throwing such a generous shindig for…free.

"What Earth Day stands for is what we're all about," she replied.

Winemaker Rich Tanguay is about robust wines that seize upon Cachaugua Valley's conditions.

I tried two of his new releases to be featured Friday.

The 2012 Cabernet Franc brings on elegant balance with enough backbone to age, all inky and dark fruity with a subtle citrus spark.

The 2013 Petit Verdot proves, well, let's have Tanguay describe it, because he does so with the most verve in the valley:

"The PV is bomba," he texts. "ISPM (industrial strength panty melter)— seriously [though]—big, broad-shouldered, dark berry, violet and sweet oak."

De Tierra Vineyards (229-2105), which fittingly translates to "of the land," does its own Earth Day event 4-8pm Saturday, April 23, at Russell Vineyard (503 Corral de Tierra Road) with a lady bug release, picnic games and the newest wines (including its organic Merlot and Cab).

Chef Soerke Peters of Basil Seasonal Dining in Carmel—which just happens to be the rare green certified restaurant—furnishes the small bites and sweet treats, so $45 for food and wine represents a tidy value.

His eco-conscious efforts helped earn the local American Culinary Federation's Chef of the Year honors.

The proceedings also include Yardzee and bean-bag-toss, sips of 2015 Monterey Rose and 2014 Santa Lucia Highlands Riesling and tours of the CCOF 0rganic and SIP-certified vineyard.