Go natural and choose organic wines.

The term ‘Organic’ has been gaining popularity in the food world.

There are 2 phases to making wine: first growing the grapes in the vineyard and then later fermenting the grapes in the winery.

The term ‘organic’ applies in the first part of the process.

Organic wines are made from grapes that are produced without pesticide, fertilizers, or chemicals. This puts the grapes in danger of attack from pests and may lower the yield of the vineyard.

Though it creates more work and potentially more heartbreak for the winemaker, not using chemicals will allow the grapes to express their ‘terroir’ more strongly. Terroir is a term to describe the climate and land where the grapes are grown. Pesticide and fertilizers may interfere with the taste of the wine produced, and their absence may make the wine ‘purer’.

Organic wines are also healthier to drink.

Just as you would not want to eat fruits with herbicides and chemicals sprayed on them, the harmful effects of these chemicals can be avoided with organic wines.

Organic wines can still have a bit of chemicals added during the second part of the winemaking process. In the winery, just a small amount of sulfites may be added to an organic wine before it is bottled. Sulfites have to be added because they are essential as a preservative for the wine. This is to help ensure that it tastes as it should when it reaches you.

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