Wai Chim


,Wine making and appreciation has been described as an artform. Today, “green” drops are regularly available in most bottle shops and cellars. More and more vineyards are adapting sustainable practices in their wine making, harking back to the traditional wine making principles.

Today, about 94 current Australian wine producers (4.1 per cent of the industry) have so far gone back to wine’s original green roots. To qualify as organic producers, winemakers must make their wines from organically grown grapes while adopting organic principles in the production process.

Some have been seriously organic since the early 1970s, while the majority only started going green in the 1990s.

So what’s the SOB

Sustainable wine - sustainable wine generally means its production minimises the use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides or herbicides. Non-organic chemicals may be used minimally in certain conditions. Sustainable wine can also relate to practices that keep the environment in mind.

Organic wine - organic wine is certified by one of the qualified certifying in Australia, typically the Australian Certified Organic (a division of the Biological Farmers Association) or the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia (NASAA). To qualify for organic certification, a vineyard verfies that it does not use certain chemicals, including pesticides and herbicids and that vines are handled minimally.

Bio-dynamic wine - adapts organic principles with a focus on the ecosystem and nature. Stemming from the theories of Rudolf Steiner, biodynamic principles are designed to be in tune with the Earth’s natural rhythms with a holistic approach to the preparation and nurturing of the vineyards’ soils. Demeter is the oldest seal in Australia, and is administered by the Bio-Dynamic Research Institute to certify biodynamic wines.

Find great organic wines on the Green Pages.



Taylor

Ben


First of all, we need to explain what an organic wine is. An organic wine is made from grapes grown according to the organic agriculture. That means any chemical products as pesticides, fertilisers and insecticides are used into the vine. All of these things damage the soil and can end up in the wine as residue. The legal definition of Organic Wine is somewhat more complicated and varies according to where the vineyard is, where the grapes are from it are fermented into wine and, finally, in which market it will be sold. In all cases, the owner must be able to prove which vineyard the grapes come from, which officially recognized body certified the vineyard as organic and from what date certified organic practices began.

The idea is that making wine from grapes grown without man-made chemicals is better both for the planet and for the wine drinker, because there are no chemical residues to end up either in the vineyard soil or in the wine.

Organic Vineyards promote polyculture (biodiversity) by allowing plants other than vines to grow in and around the vineyard. This sort of biodiversity helps regulate the vineyard soil.

So, when you decide to buy and taste a bottle of organic wine, you do 2 gests. On for the planet and the environment (as any chemical products are used) and a second towards you as there is no residue into the wine you will taste.

Some tips now to enjoy organic wine.

In most case, decanting benefits both the appearance and the taste of the wine. Decanting helps the appearance by leaving any sediment in the wine at the bottom of the bottle the wine came in, rather in your glass. Remember that organic wines are often bottled without fining or filtration, so they are likely to contain sediment. This is often a good sign in a wine. Decanting helps the wine to breathe and develop all its aromas.

If after all, you are not convinced, why not pop in a real good independent wine merchant to have a little tasting and let yourself be seduced by the wine.



Cathy

Louise Truswell


 

If there is one form of farming that is suited to being organic, it has to be growing vines. Vines are brilliant because of their hardiness – they’ll flourish in grotty soils and go weeks without rain. But does going organic make a better wine? Read on to find out how organic wines stand apart from normal wines.

Better wines for the planet and for you

Organic wines are made without using any unnatural chemicals, such as herbicides and pesticides, which are added to vines to kill weeds and pests. So when you buy organic wine, you’ll be getting wines that are kinder to both the soil and you, reducing the build up of non-natural toxins within your body. If you find that you ever get a headache after drinking a glass of wine, it’s likely to be due to the chemical residues in the wine - try an organic wine for a change and you are bound to see the difference.

Dedicated winemakers

For a winemaker, deciding to produce organic wines is a very brave decision and exposes them to a lot more hard work, dedication and risk when it comes to attending to their vines. Inspections are needed daily to check for disease and pests, and winemakers have to rely on natural predators and eco-friendly agents whose effectiveness depends on thorough nurturing, care and an awful lot of extra work. But one thing is for sure when you buy organic wine, you can be safe in the knowledge that you’ll be buying wine from dedicated winemakers.

A better tasting wine

Due to the shear hard work and care that is required when it comes to producing organic wines, you can be certain that you’ll be getting a wine from a winemaker who has done all they possibly can to bring you the best quality possible.

Organic wine – the perfect match for organic food

To really make the most from your organic wines, team them with some organic meat, fish and vegetables for a perfect match.

Value for money

Even though organic vines often produce lower yields and require a lot more manual labour, they rarely cost more (if at all) than normal wines. Why? Because organic wines have faced a degree of criticism over the years and organic winemakers are having to do all they possibly can to change this opinion.

New and exciting wines

With organic wines increasingly available, you’ll have a wide variety of wines to choose from. You may even come across some organic wines made from unusual or unfamiliar grapes. However, don’t be put off – most winemakers are simply playing to nature’s strengths, growing what’s best suited to their soils and what will grow unaided. So why not take the time to sample a few and stock up.

To find out more and to choose from a range of organic wine, visit virginwines(dot)com



Trish

Olivia Thomas


These days, more and more people are choosing to eat and drink organically. And why not? Organic foods are better for you, and for the environment. Sure, organic products are a little more expensive than their preservative counterparts, but they are doing wonders to your body, both inside and out. And, thus, it is no surprise that many people are choosing to fill up their wine glasses with organic wine. However, there is a big different between organic wines, and wines made from organic grapes. The difference lies in the sulphites.

Organic Wines are wines that are made from organically grown grapes without any added sulphites. However, some ‘organic ‘wines are made from organically grown grapes but still contain up to 100ppm of added sulphites. The problem with total organic wines is that it cannot be labelled organic unless it is 100 percent organic, which means 0 S02 present. Every country is different, but, under the USDA and America’s National Organic Program, this is the way it is. Even with an added 100ppm of sulphite, the product is 99.9 percent organic. However, this is not enough to classify as true organic wines.

So, what does this mean for the organic wine industry and the consumers? Well, it means a lot of confusion. You want to fill your wine glasses up with organic wines but, with the confusion surrounding the term ‘organic’ how can you know that your wine choice is actually organically grown and manufactured? An organic wine, in the United States, must come with a certified United States Department of Agriculture Seal (USDA). They tend to be more expensive than the other labeled wines; however, you can be rest assured that you are doing your body and the environment a favor.

As with all wine, it comes down to taste. If you have an opportunity to sample some organic wines then go for it. In fact, take a trip to your local wine shop and ask questions. I’m sure a tasting will soon follow, you never know, you may find what you have been looking for. Another way to get a sample is to look at the wine list at a restaurant and see if they offer the organic by the glass. If they do, ask for a sample first. Asking for a small sample first if a great way to see if you are going to like something before you spend the money on a full glass or even a bottle.

If picking up a bottle of organic wine as a present, why not pair it off with some of the common wine accessories on the market? For that perfect housewarming present, a nice bottle of red organic wine will go great with a pair of red wine glasses. Or, how about surprising your newlywed friends with his and her corkscrews or wine racks? Cheese boards are a great addition to a bottle of wine for any dinner party. Wine gifts complement perfectly with a bottle of organic wine. Show your truly care about your friend, as well as the environment.



Jamie