Here’s what to look for when choosing organic wine and a few of the best places to buy organic wine online, says Joanna Evans
Drinking wine, especially red wine, is seriously good for your health, says Tony Edwards in “The Truth About Alcohol-Free Wine.” And drinking alcohol-free versions won’t bring the same benefits. But the bad news is that wine grapes are among the most pesticide-intensive crops in the world.1 So, if you want to enjoy a daily tipple or two, it makes sense to choose organic wine.
In basic terms, organic wine is made from organically grown grapes. This means the grapes are grown in line with the principles of organic farming, which prohibits the use of artificial chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides and herbicides as well as genetically modified organisms.
Although anyone can practice organically, to label their wine “organic,” producers need to be certified. And different agencies and countries have different criteria for organic certification.
In the EU, winemaking regulations introduced in 2012 now allow the whole process, from harvest to bottle, to be certified by law. This means wine can now be labeled “organic,” setting it apart from “natural” wine, which has no legal definition.
Similarly, in the US, for a wine to be sold as organic, both the growing of the grapes and their conversion to wine must be certified. However, while EU rules permit the addition of sulfites to organic wine (maximum amounts depend on the type of wine), US regulations don’t.
Sulfites, commonly added to wines to prevent the fermentation process or preserve the flavor profile, can cause health problems, such as headaches and asthma attacks, for some sensitive people.2 But according to Edwards, who delved into the sulfite science in his book The Very Good News about Wine, “For the vast majority of drinkers, sulfites appear to have no adverse health consequences.”
Another label you need to know about in the US is “made with organic grapes,” which can be used if the grapes are 100 percent certified organic, but the wine contains added sulfites (up to 100 parts per million).
And what about biodynamic wine? This is wine made with the least intervention possible. Biodynamic growing methods are largely similar to organic principles but also follow the principles of anthroposophy—the understanding of the spiritual, ecological, and energetic aspects of the earth.
Buying organic wine
When choosing organic wine, whether you’re buying online or from your local wine store or supermarket, look for organic certification labels like these:
The Euro leaf label consists of 12 white stars in the shape of a leaf on a green background.
In the US, you can also look for wine labeled “made with organic grapes” if you’re not concerned about added sulfites.
To make things easier for you, we’ve tracked down a handful of independent online wine merchants specializing in organic wines. They’ve already navigated the world of organic wine to bring you a curated collection—the best of the best.
US
The Organic Wine Company
Started over 40 years ago, the Organic Wine Company works with winemakers from around the world to offer you a wide range of organic wines with low or no sulfites added. All wines are also vegan (made without animal products) and gluten-free, and there’s lots of useful information on the website.
The Organic Wine Store
Set up by sommelier Raimondo Boggia, the Organic Wine store offers “a select and dynamic collection of 120 of the best organic wines in the world.” All wines for sale are curated, blind-tasted and scored by Boggia and come with a handy checklist of information to help you make your selection.
UK
Vintage Roots
Founded in 1986, Vintage Roots has a portfolio of over 500 wines and dozens of beers, ciders, spirits and liqueurs. All are certified organic as laid out by the UK’s Organic Food Federation (orgfoodfed.com). Every wine is tasted blind and reviewed over the course of a year to select only the best organic wines for the site.
Vinceremos
Another long-established organic wine specialist, Vinceremos sources nearly all its wines directly from organic vineyards in France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, England, Austria, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. The range includes some 350 certified organic and mostly vegan wines as well as organic spirits, beer, cider and soft drinks.
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