from the vine
what makes a wine organic?
by: Sam Black
I often come across customers or people who attend my wine tastings who have questions about organic wines. And in thinking about, it I realize there is a lot of interest in the subject, but also a lot of confusion. Because not only are there organic wines, but there are wines that are made with organically grown grapes.
So, to help lessen the confusion let me start by saying that the labeling of organic wines is the least understood in the boom for organic and natural foods. Wine labels that read “Organically Grown Grapes” are not Organic wines. They are just what they say, wines made with grapes that are organically grown, meaning the vineyard emphasizes the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. It also means the grapes are grown without using most conventional pesticides and meets USDA organic standards.
So if that’s not an organic wine, what is it? The reason this type of wine is not labeled with the USDA organic seal is that it may contain added and naturally occurring sulfites and may contain at least 30% of nonorganic ingredients.
For a wine to be labeled “100% Organic” and contain the USDA seal it must be grown at a certified organic winery and be made from 100% organically produced ingredients. That means the winery must follow the guidelines set in place by the National Organic Program (part of the USDA) and pass inspection by a Governmentapproved certifier. 100% organic wines may have naturally occurring sulfites, but cannot have any added sulfites.
“What about the taste?” is one of the most frequent questions I’m asked and I’m happy to say flavors are not compromised at all. A close associate told me she actually finds that organic wines taste lighter. I agree, and if you are a discerning wine connoisseur you can actually taste the difference.
Here are a few recommendations if you want to try the organic option. I mention Frey Vineyards first because they are the oldest (1980) and largest purely organic winery in the U.S.
Frey Natural Red Organic Wine
$8.99 (USDA certified)
Frey Zinfandel Organic Wine
$12.99 (USDA certified)
Frey Syrah Organic Wine
$12.99 (USDA certified)
Badger Mountain Riesling
$9.99 (USDA certified)
Badger Merlot
$14.99 (USDA certified)
Bonterra Chardonnay Organically Grown Grape
$10.00 (not USDA certified)
Natura Carmenere Valley Colchagua Chile Organically Grown Grapes
$7.99 (not USDA certified).
Samuel Black is a wine consultant. He does educational classes, special events, and private wine parties, wine and food preparations, and lectures on wine
