The Case for Organic Methods in Winemaking

Yes, 100% certified organic wine is at the top of the market. It’s considered the healthiest options, more regulated than any other wine produced. Why? Because it contains no synthetic materials, GMOs, artificial chemicals, additives such as processed sugar. Let’s dig deeper into why organic— both organic growing and organic wine production— make such a difference.

Organic Methods: From Soil to Bottle?

The organic methods used, from the vineyard to the entire handling and production process in the winery, represent a true holistic approach to farming and winemaking. Certified Organic vineyards go beyond “today’s concept” of sustainable farming, pushing for continuous improvement—a transformation I’ve witnessed over nearly six decades. Grapes, like any agricultural product, are grown on a farm and processed into wine. Without being a certified organic vineyard, you can’t produce certified organic wine. All plants planted in soil are feeding from the soil to survive. What the farmer applies to the soil or directly to the plant, stays in the plant, which is therefor, in the food or textiles. In addition, with hydroponic growing for food is different as it depends on the “type of water” used an again what the farmer uses for food and pest management to keep the plant alive. Also important is that once the uptake occurs it cannot be removed from food the plant produces.

Organic farming methods dating back to pre-industrial agriculture, before the introduction of synthetic chemicals during the late 19th century are truly holistic farming methods. While "sustainable" has become a buzzword (relating to products and farming), the word has lost its value, having been greenwashed. Many consumers are now realizing the deeper benefits of certified organic methods and their products.

It Starts in the Vineyard

Organic methods prohibit the use of synthetic chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and other harmful substances. Chemicals are often applied either to the soil, sprayed onto crops, or delivered through irrigation systems. In the U.S., over a billion pounds of synthetic materials are approximately used on 99% of farmland, contributing to health issues like cancer, ADHD, dementia, autism, reproduction and more. Studies by independent researchers support these findings, while industry-sponsored studies often claim otherwise.

It's clear how organic certification ensures a healthier approach:

1. Certified Organic Vineyards To start a farmers must prove, through inspections, that no synthetic materials have been used for at least three years, known as the transition period. This certification process includes recordkeeping, soil testing, and establishing buffer zones around the vineyard. Inspections are conducted annually, sometimes unannounced, ensuring compliance and accountability. Record keeping is also inspected. If a farm loses certification of noncompliance, it must restart the three-year transition process again to continue.
2. Biodynamic? Certification Building on organic certification, Biodynamic? methods ensure that 100% of the property adheres to holistic organic methods, including landscaping and farm feed. Besides setting aside farmland for biodiversity preservation, the farm is run with ecological and ethical approach. Biodynamic? farming integrates scientific and metaphysical and spirit roots. Besides using solar and lunar cycles; it adds the natural sense of place farming methods, encourages using local resources to create a self-contained, sustainable ecosystem. The whole farm is inspected. The farm biodiversity is at the highest degree.
3. Regenerative Organic Certified? This certification prioritizes soil health soil testing is involved, animal welfare, and social justice for farm workers. Inspections are conducted annually, walking the whole farm ensuring compliance and accountability. Interviews with onsite employees that works the farm are interview. It’s vital not to confuse Regenerative Organic Certified? with Regenerative farming. Regenerative farming is being affected by the greenwashing movement —it does not require organic, allowing GMO’s and synthetic materials, nor does it include the same rigorous organic standards or certification.

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Organic Certified Wine

Labels on organic wines can be confusing, so let’s clarify:

• "Made with Organic Grapes": This indicates that the grapes are organic, but the winemaking process most likely not.
• Organic Certification Seals: When you see the USDA Organic or CCOF seal (in California), the wine was grown, produced, and bottled following strict organic standards.

To produce organic wine, wineries must have a separate organic certification being a handler or processor. The winery can be fully invested or create separate spaces between organic and conventional winemaking. This involves extensive documentation and cleaning protocols. Fully certified organic wineries simplify this process and ensure the highest standards.

Common Consumer Concerns

In my travels and conversations, I often hear questions and misconceptions about organic wine. Consumers want to know what organic wine is, how it is made and how free of chemicals it is and if it is healthy for them.

The key concerns consumer are asking about:

1. No Sugar added: Winemakers cannot add processed sugar or organic sugar to a certified organic wine. Residual sugar in wine comes from natural grape sugars left after fermentation. Wines with higher alcohol content typically have less residual sugar.
2. No GMOs: Organic methods strictly prohibit genetically modified organisms (GMOs), both in farming and production.
3. Less Sulfites: Organic wines contain only naturally occurring sulfites, typically below 10 ppm. These wines can be labeled "No Detectable Sulfites" if they meet the threshold, but no wine is entirely sulfite-free. Conventional, or sustainable wines may have up to 350 ppm sulfites in the U.S., while organic wines must adhere to much lower limits.
4. No Additives: Organic wines do not include sulfuric acid, fining and or clarification agents, artificial coloring, flavoring agents, or any other harmful additives.
5. Cost of:

Farming vineyards organically run less or within the same roam as sustainable or conventional vineyards. It is however noted that Organic vineyards use less water, more resilient, healthier to live longer. In most cases twice as long. So, replanting would incur costs twice as much and more of a negative environmental impact.

Health Benefits of Organic Wine

Since lately whereas WHO and others have linked all wines to have health issues, they need to look at organic wine separately. This would be no different that certified organic corn VS *Regenerative farmed, conventional or sustainable grown corn.

Moderate wine consumption is linked to health benefits, and organic wine offers even more advantages by eliminating synthetic chemicals. Key compounds like anthocyanins and resveratrol provide anti-aging and cardiovascular health benefits. Organic red wines, rich in antioxidants, can help fight free radicals, boost collagen production, and maintain skin elasticity.

Trust the Certification

To ensure you’re purchasing truly organic wine, look for certification labels like USDA Organic, CCOF (California), or Europe’s Euroleaf logo. Without these, a product is unlikely to meet organic standards. There are grant monies available for transition and continuation to organic farming in many countries including the USA and EU.

Challenges and Opportunities

While organic wine is gaining traction, the transition to organic farming is not easy. Certification takes at least three years, and the U.S. has stricter standards than many other countries. For example, adding processed sugar in wine is illegal in California but permitted in cooler U.S. regions and the EU.

The demand for transparency in farming and production has grown, especially since the pandemic, as consumers increasingly prioritize health. Organic wine aligns perfectly with this shift.

Natural Wine vs. Organic Wine

"Natural wine" is not synonymous with organic wine. Without official regulations, natural wines can come from non-organic vineyards. For true transparency, look for labels that state "Made with Organic Grapes" and include certification seals.?

Natural wines are different in many areas than “organic certified". The term "natural wine" can also refer to a winemaker's philosophy of working with nature instead of fighting against it.?Natural winemakers try to make as few interventions as possible in the vineyard and winery, and those interventions are physical rather than chemical.

So, the assumption opens many doors here: first that the grapes do not need to be grown certified organic or Biodynamic?. This is highly concerning for most when brought up. Natural wines with no official definition are a wild card. Good transparent producers would do the right way and label as “made with organic grapes” AND “produced”, which means it would have one of the Organic seals on the bottle. Natural wine in is a marketing term, not a classified process and has no regulation. "Natural" on a label doesn't have to do with the methods or materials used to grow the food ingredients either. As saying that, “natural” has been greenwashed so many times it has been well laundered.?

Organic wine represents a return to thoughtful, chemical-free farming and winemaking. It’s not just a trend—it’s a healthier, true sustainable choice. By supporting certified organic wine, consumers can enjoy a superior product while promoting better farming methods for generations.

Transparency is giving the consumer choices. Once they know the facts about the differences, they can choose between the farming methods and the products these methods they produce.

My goal is for accountability, transparency, and truly organic methods in every bottle.

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References:

Spins Marketing: www.spins.com ?

Grandview Research