http://www.care2.com/greenliving/winemaking-that-goes-beyond-organic.html
Winemaking That Goes Beyond Organic
Over the past decade, the popularity of organic produce has grown significantly. But, what about organic wine? Many people aren’t even aware that they can get organic wine, and if they are, have the misconception that it doesn’t taste as good as conventional wine.
However, that’s not the case. There are several wineries producing award-winning organic wines including one of the oldest and most popular, California’s Frey Vineyards.
What exactly is organic wine? Organically certified wine is a wine made from organically grown grapes and without any added sulfites.
More specifically, according to the Organic Consumers Association, for a wine to be labeled “organic” and to have the USDA organic seal, it “must be made from organically grown grapes and give information about who the certifying agency is. A wine in this category cannot have any added sulfites. It may have naturally occurring sulfites, but the total sulfite level must be less than 20 parts per million.” And, all organic claims must be clearly stated on the label.
According to the Frey family, wine grapes have been grown “organically” for thousands of years, and they are simply following that tradition. “We take the best of ancient history, an 8000 year old success story, and incorporate it with the best of modern wine making and modern technology,” said Paul Frey Jr.
Frey’s organic wine grapes are grown on about 100 acres throughout the Mendocino County area, an ideal winegrowing region with its cool nights and warm days. It’s also a hotbed for organic wine makers.
Mendocino County has 15 certified organic wineries, more than anywhere else in the U.S., including Barra of Mendocino, Paul Dolan Vineyards, and Handley Cellars and is known for growing diverse grape varieties including Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc.
The Frey’s have also been the leaders in taking their wine “beyond” organic. They were the first winery in the United States to produce Biodynamic wines. Biodynamic farms strive to be self-sustaining within the surrounding ecosystem and they view the vineyard as a living system.
The grapes grown for the Frey’s biodynamic wines are grown in accordance with the Biodynamic certification agency the Demeter Association, whose standards are stricter than organic standards and emphasize farm animals, soil, and compost preparations that enhance plant growth and fertility.
This commitment to alternatives even extends to non-agricultural aspects of their winery. They use biodiesel for the tractors out in the field and a solar powered electric forklift in the warehouse.
If you are a wine lover and want to learn more about organic and biodynamic wines and wineries, check out Organic Wine Journal.
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8 comments
add your comment »Organic sounds good without all the sulfites that tend to give me a terrible headache.
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PH, I assume you are referring to Frey Wines, and I agree with you -- I am a red wine drinker, and buy organic whenever possible - but I don't like the odd taste of Frey reds either. If you have a Whole Foods Market nearby, try a bottle of Girasole Organic Pinot Noir (Girasole is a subsidiary of Barra of Mendocino Organic Winery). It's an excellent, soft, full-bodied wine, and also vegan! Look for the sunflower on the label.
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This article is not promoting alcohol; it is saying IF you drink wine, this may be a better alternative.
I am in New Zealand, and there are some fantastic carbon zero and organic wines being produced here. Good luck P.H. with finding some more to your taste.
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Caffeine is also a drug as are many other substances routinely added to foods. People who drink responsibly are more numerous than those who do not.
Sorry but I enjoy a glass of wine with my dinner occasionally and studies have shown it is beneficial.
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It amazes me that in this day & age when alcohol is the focus of more & more studies linking it to 60 diseases, including 5 or 6 cancers, including being one of the main risk factors for breast cancer, & all the social/criminal costs to society (1/2 of all violent crime & murders, 1/3 of all child abuse & suicides,& all the social ills & costs of fetal alc.synd for example, are all alcohol related)that we can still see articles promoting drinking!
1400 students die each year from alcohol related causes! If that many died from smoking you'd all be taking to the streets, wouldn't you? Alcohol is also linked to 500,000 injuries & 70,000 sexual assaults on US campuses a year.
A new report just out states that alcohol kills more people in the world than all other drugs combined - & remember, something drinkers are loath to mention, alcohol IS a mind-altering, addictive drug that destroys millions of lives, childhoods, families, careers & relationships every day around the world. It deadens the part of the brain that leads to responsible action & is the cause of a large portion of unwanted pregnancies & other stupid behavior regretted the following day. The WJS estimates alcohol costs the US $200bn/yrin crime,violence,illness&lostproductivity!
Isn't it time to stop promoting this ugly drug? It's a new day, time to stop using.
Nothing is more dismaying than to see an otherwise intelligent person getting more glassy-eyed
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Great article. Thanks!
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You can buy or make organic wines, quite easily. We make mead from organic fruit and honey. Costs a wee bit more for the fruit, but who wants to have pesticides and other nasties in your product that you have for years and years?
I don't use sulfites because I'm allergic. So we're just patient and wait until the yeast is done with its work and dies off naturally.
Only problem with that is our wines tend to be a little high on the alcoholic side.
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I have had their wine, and unfortunately I did not care for it at all. Maybe it was the year, but as I love wine, and I want to support organic, it has too taste good.
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