To begin with….
…I know a lot more about adventure than I do about wine. I love wine, and love learning about it. But, I am a novice, and am still learning about everything from organic wines and non-alcohol wines to sustainability in farming and vineyards.
But, as a one-time journalist, I do know how to research. So, I will share what I learn with you as we go along.
In my research on organic wine, I have found a few things. First, organic means something different in the USA than it does in Europe and Canada.
In USA, organic wine means:
It was made with grapes that were grown without herbicides or fungicides in the vineyard.
No sulfites were added in production
In Europe and Canada, an organic wine means:
It was made with grapes that were grown without pesticides and/or herbicides.
It may or may not contain added sulfites.
But…and there is a “but.” Just because a wine is “organic,” this does not mean that nothing was added during production. In fact, there are any number of things that can be added, even to organic wines, during production (i.e. yeast, egg whites). This is why an “organic” wine may not be necessarily vegan.
How do you know if a wine is organic?
Look for the words “Made with Organically Grown Grapes” on the label. This label means that the wines are made with grapes from Certified Organic vineyards, and that the wine contains less than the allowed amount of sulfites (100 ppm).
Are organic wines certified in some way?
There are a number of certifications to look for in searching for an organic wine.
USDA Organic:
The USDA has an “Organic Integrity Database” where you can find a specific certified farm or business:
https://organic.ams.usda.gov/integrity/
Their website for how to become a certified producer is at
https://www.ams.usda.gov/about-ams/programs-offices/national-organic-program.
Demeter: Certified Biodynamic:
This is a certification for international organic and biodynamic certifications.
https://www.demeter-usa.org/learn-more/
SIP (Sustainability in Practice) Certified:
SIP Certified wines may also be organic and biodynamic, but this certification goes a step further to look at farming methods on every level, from farm labor to agriculture, energy conservation and water quality. https://www.sipcertified.org/
Certified California Sustainable Vineyard and Winery: a certification program that provides verification by a third-party auditor that a winery or vineyard implements sustainable practices and continuous improvement. https://www.sustainablewinegrowing.org/