I recently received an email from Vegas Voice reader Peggy Davis of Sun City, Summerlin. She thought a column about organic wines was long overdue and I couldn’t agree more.
A U.S. bottle labeled “organic wine” means it was made naturally with organic grapes and contains no added sulfites. If additional sulfites are added, the wine label changes to “made with organic grapes.”
Organic farming is all about what happens in the vineyard. It means that no pesticides or herbicides were used during the grape growing season. The focus is on soil health. If the soil is healthy and balanced, the vine is stronger. Organic farming is like eating whole, unprocessed foods instead of relying on supplements.
A true organic natural wine is a marriage of two philosophies. The grapes are grown organically, and the winemaking is minimally interventionist with few additives to allow its purity to shine through.
The result is a raw, expressive wine instead of a more polished wine from one of its conventional cousins. One isn’t better than the other. It’s all about what tastes right to you.
An additive that is a key differentiator between natural and conventional wines is the amount of sulfites used in winemaking. Natural wines use sulfites that occur naturally during most types of fermentation. Sulfites preserve wine and prevent it from spoiling or tasting like vinegar in your glass, so they are essential. Some winemakers prefer to add additional sulfites to the wine like a chef adds a touch more salt to a recipe. That’s a more conventional approach to winemaking.
In the United States, California’s Bonterra winery is known as the face of organic farming. Their Chardonnay is a classic. It’s available along with Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon at Total Wine for between $11-15 per bottle. Italy’s Alois Lageder is another winery totally committed to the environment. Their high-altitude Pinot Grigio is crisp and incredibly pure. It retails at Total Wine for $22.99.
While some folks choose organic for health or environmental reasons, it comes down to what you prefer. Why not try both and then decide? Cheers!
