Once there was a time when people would actively avoid organic wines because they just were not that great to drink. But according to the most recent figures from the 2014 Australian Organic Market Report, organic wine is on the rise among wine lovers because we are getting better at making it well. Click to find out more
Organic wine is a wine made from grapes that have been grown without the use of artificial or synthetic chemicals, such as herbicides and pesticides. To keep the weeds and bugs at bay, organic farmers work with nature by boosting their vineyard’s biodiversity. For example, they introduce crops to provide a habitat for beneficial insects that are the natural enemy of problem species; or have small sheep graze between the vine rows, eating the grass and weeds. In this way, the vineyard becomes a self-regulating natural ecosystem which is able to combat problems and eliminates the need for artificial chemicals.
To be truly organic, the wine must be certified. Certification is provided by an independent third-party organisation, which carries out annual audits on vineyards that have applied for organic certification, to ensure that the grapes that they grow comply with the strict standards of both the particular certifying body and the department of agriculture. It is against the law for a wine producer to sell or promote their wine as organic if it is not certified.
Just because a wine is organic, however, doesn’t mean that it is somehow healthier for you. The environment is certainly in much better health and in the hands of a skilled winemaker the wine can definitely taste delicious. But organic wine still contains alcohol, which, of course, is harmful in excessive amounts. Organic wine also contains up to half the maximum legal limit of sulphur dioxide (220), a common preservative in wine that is used to kill unwanted bacteria and keep the wine fresh and fruity. By the way dried fruits often contain higher % levels of sulphur!
For most of us, the choice to drink an organic wine usually comes down to taste. As with most organic produce, the flavours can be complex, pure and delicious. Organic food nourishes you in a way that no conventionally grown food can, and the same can be said of organic wine. Many restaurants now include them on their wine lists because they taste great and they tend to go well with food.
But, don’t take our word for it…..try some organic wine by Vita Vie from Simall Wines. We also have a no added preservative organic Shiraz for those people who have sulphur allergies. Its one way to check it all out for yourself.