What Is an Organic Wine?

March 13, 2013

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We get a lot of questions about the differences between organic wine, wine made from organically grown grapes, biodynamic wines and wines with no sulfites added. Brush up on your wine knowledge with our quick primer:

Organic Wines

These wines carry the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic seal (the certifying agency must be listed), which indicates the wine is made from 100 percent organically grown ingredients and has been monitored throughout its entire production process. They contain no pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, chemical fertilizes, or synthetic chemicals of any kind and no added sulfites. This means the wine can contain only naturally occurring sulfites. Some wines carry “No detectable sulfites” on the label. This means that the current testing methods cannot detect any sulfites.

Try: Our Daily Red Wine

Wines Made with Organically Grown Grapes

This means the wine is made from at least 70 percent organically grown grapes. It can have artificial sulfites added. (It does not carry the USDA organic seal.)

Try: Bonterra Wines

Biodynamic Wines

The concept of biodynamic wine was originated by the early 20th century Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner. These wines are not only 100 percent organic; in addition, the grower makes an effort to bring the farming process more closely in tune with nature. They view vineyards as self–sustaining ecosystems, and the soil beneath them as a living organism. Sulfites may be used, but only in very low amounts (less than 100 PPM).

Try : Benziger Wines

The Role of Sulfites

Sulfites occur naturally in wine during the fermentation process, as well as occurring naturally in your body and many other foods. In wine production, the addition of sulfites acts as a preservative, is used to prevent oxidation and bacterial spoilage, and helps stabilize the wine. A wine made with no sulfites will be more fragile and age sooner. White wines are the most fragile, as they do not have tannins (a component in red wines that helps preserve them). There is a very small percentage of the population (less than 0.5 percent), especially asthmatics, that is sensitive to excess sulfites. Any wine with more than 10 parts per million is required to state “Contains Sulfites” on the label. • Hank Beal (Adult Beverage)