Organic Wines – What does it mean?

In our guide on organic wines, we will dive into the world of wines produced using natural farming methods and free from synthetic chemicals.

Less Chemicals

Only use naturally derived protective sprays, and only when they absolutely need to. The first aspect of organically farmed wines is the attitude towards the use of chemicals.

Mass-made and branded wines use intensive agriculture methods and rely on chemically derived fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides to produce guaranteed, large volumes of grapes every vintage to fit their economic model. However, organic growers will often use the likes of Bordeaux Mixture on the vines, which is made of natural elements like lime, copper sulphate and water to inhibit mildew.

Improved Soil Health

Enhance soil fertility by using natural composts and cover crops. It increases organic matter and microbial activity in the soil. This is important for building nutrients from soil to plant and vice versa, bringing the soil into a more natural balance.

Promotes better water retention and reduces erosion. This is especially important in drier regions that may experience only limited rainfall each year. If the soil can retain the water, as opposed to being washed away by the often sudden and dramatic downpours, the health of soils, plants and the growing environment can be maintained.

Encouraging Biodiversity

Organic farming promotes biodiversity, allowing plant, insect, bird and animal life to return to the vineyards as part of a healthy natural balance.

Use of cover crops between the vines not only helps with soil health but attracts insect life including beneficial pollinators and natural predators for destructive insects. This is also done through pheromone traps which create sexual confusion and limit the breeding of undesirable vineyard pests in a much less intrusive manner.

Employ bird, bat boxes and animals to protect the woodlands and meadows surrounding the vineyards. This helps to naturally reduce the number of pests in the vines, with one single pipistrelle bat consuming up to 3,000 insects in just one night! Larger animals can help to turn soil and add natural fertilisers to the land.

Organically Certified

The difference is the certification. For a wine to be labelled Organic, they require third-party certification to show that the grapes used in the production of the wine are 100% organically grown and that they are free from the use of chemicals.

Certification organisation around the world,

• Soil Association in the UK
• Europe’s BioAgriCert in Europe
• Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) in France
• California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) in the USA

These organisations carry out annual audits on vineyards to ensure that the grapes they grow comply with the strict standards.

Do you know?
It’s also against the law for a wine producer to sell or promote their wine as organic if it is not certified.

Organically Farmed

Why are producers that practice organic farming not organic certified?

Regulatory restrictions. In the USA, for example, the rules surrounding Organic Certification are stricter than other countries. The rules drastically alter both vineyard and winery practices, hence producers do not seek certification.

Climate restriction. Organic grape growing is easier in warm, dry environments with more predictable weather and less moisture in the air, such as the Rhone. In cooler, wetter areas like Champagne or Chablis, the ethos of organic production is applauded but applied with consideration to ensure the vines are healthy enough to flourish. 

Cost and Workload. Certification takes time, paperwork, and money. Many smaller wineries do not have the funds, time, to go for full certification. Instead, they rely on their distributors to explain their organic methods to the final consumers.

Do you know?
Outside of organised schemes, there are general practices that many wine producers follow to reduce their environmental footprint, such as Lutte Raisonnée – a French term that directly translates as ‘the reasoned fight’, meaning that you only use what you absolutely must on the vines.

How and where to find organic wines?

Finding organic wines is easier than ever as increasing numbers of producers understand the market value of attaining certification. Look out for certification labels, such as the EU’s green leaf, on the bottle.

For those that haven’t gained organic certification, however, it’s important to know who to ask. At Wanderlust, we ensure that all our wines are ‘organically farmed’ at the base level, so you know that shopping with us means you are buying organically produced wines.

The future of organic wines

The Organic wine market has come a long way from its questionable reputation just a few decades ago. Some of the world’s most celebrated names, including Château Latour and Domaine Romanée-Conti employ organic and biodynamic methods to produce their world-beating wines.

It is currently estimated that the organic wine market will grow between 10-15% year on year for the foreseeable future, as more people prioritise the purchase of eco-friendly wines, the use of lower levels of sulphites (a rule within organic viticulture), and a building trust in the quality produced.

Get in touch

If you have any questions on our range of organic wines or need recommendations,
give us a call at 0203 4885258 or email hello@wanderlustwine.co.uk