Wine As A Natural Product

Of The Earth: Going Organic

A stroll through the grocery store lately reveals to the discriminating shopper more and more “organic” choices.

Although I am not quite sure what qualifies a food product to be organic, winemakers around the world are increasingly trying to produce a healthier product. These wines tend to follow some generally accepted practices that separate them from some of the more common commercial winery practices.

In California, many wineries have elected to follow a voluntary code of sustainable winegrowing. Accepted sustainable practices include energy and water conservation, reducing pesticide use, and developing an ecologically friendly environment in the vineyard.

Wines that are specifically labeled organic meet regulations set by the U.S. government. These wines are produced from grapes grown with no synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides or fungicides for a period of at least three years. The wines have no added sulfites and measurable sulfites of less than ten parts per million.

It should be noted that winemaking is inherently a very natural process. Many wineries are simply trying to preserve the idea of wine as a natural product of the earth.

Biodynamic winemaking is an even more radical idea that is intriguing to winemakers around the world. These wineries and grape growers have adopted a holistic method of production that includes relying on the position of the moon and the stars for determining the best times to plant, harvest, and bottle.

Totally natural fertilizers and methods are used to optimize the quality of the wine. Although this takes the organic idea to the extreme, biodynamic wineries can be found in wine producing areas around the world.

Slowly but surely, winemakers are adopting practices that they feel are healthier to the environment and their customers. Eventually, there will probably be a day when we can take these practices for granted.

*Recently tasted and enjoyed: Les Baux de Provence, Mas de Gourgonnier.

This red blend from southern France happens to be organic, it balances bright fruit with hints of earth, and is perfect on a chilly winter evening.

 (Newtown resident and wine enthusiast Steve Small is the general manager at Yankee Wine & Spirits on Queen Street.)