Is Organic Worth It?

by Rhino Wino on August 16, 2010

Everything seems to be organic lately; it is a trend in food, drinks and even bath products.  But surely by now you all have learned that organic is not always the better choice.  For example organic lemonade seems silly because the skin of the lemon was not used in making the lemonade so it is very unlikely to contain any of the pesticides and chemicals sprayed on the peel of the lemons.  Other organics seem like a must; but is organic wine one of those?

                Well organic wine means that all of the grapes used in the wine were grown without any chemicals and that no sulfites or other flavors were added during the creation. Organic wineries typically use very simple methods that produce clearly better for you wines.  They are better for you because they lack added sulfites, which aside from making it crisper, it also makes it better for you. Not to mention the absence of added flavors make it purely about the grapes.  A wine pitcher of organic wine really is everyone’s dream, even if they don’t quite know it yet. Just be warned that certain wines will try to play organic by saying “made with organic grapes” but to get this on the bottle they only have to use 70% organic grapes and can still add sulfites.  Pick carefully and enjoy.

Tagged as: organic wine, wine

  • Paolo

    It is true that in US organic regulations foods that make the claim “made with organic” ingredients at least 70% agricultural products have to be certified organic. But with wine this is not the case. Wine labeled as “made with organic grapes” is made from 100% organic grapes and wine with 30% or less of non-organic grapes must be labeled as “made with organic grapes and non-organic grapes” or “made with organic Merlot on non-organic Cabernet Sauvignon,” for example. See page five at http://www.ttb.gov/pdf/organic/alfd-guidance-for-organic-labeling-applicants.pdf
    Paolo Bonetti
    President
    Organic Vintners

  • http://www.rhinowinegear.com RhinoWineGear

    That’s some good insight Paolo. Thanks for including the pdf resource.
    Cheers!

  • http://www.fitzpatrickwinery.com Brian Fitzpatrick

    Wines are not better for you because they lack added sulfites. Sulfites are not a public health issue but a sensitivity issue for less than 1% of the population. Wines are not “crisper” because they lack sulfites either, that’s a function of the wine’s acidity. Let’s not bite at the same hook as Charlie the Tuna who thought he had good taste but we all knew Charlie didn’t taste good. Try some wines made with organically grown grapes for good health and good taste.

  • http://twitter.com/OrganicWineGirl Beth-ann Roth

    Direct pesticide ingestion from fruit is not the only reason to opt for organic produce. While a thick-skinned fruit, such as a lemon, may not retain as much pesticide residue in the fruit itself, the runoff from pesticide- and herbicide-laden agriculture certain does make its way into our water supply and harms everyone. Also, just like using an antibiotic when absolutely necessary kills all of the good bacteria along with the bad in our gut, and then needs to be replenished so we can live healthily and fight disease, the use of pesticides and herbicides harm the nutrients in the soil that nurtures the plants that grow the fruits and vegetables we eat. So there are plenty of reasons to go organic other than direct pesticide residue.

    Grapes, unlike lemons and other thick-skinned fruits, are near the top of the list of products that retain pesticide residue. Based on the question posed above (“Other organics seem like a must; but is organic wine one of those?), wine made with organic grapes (which means it is made from 100% organic fruit — see Paolo Benetti’s comment below) is indeed a must if you otherwise care about organics. If you buy organic food, then why wouldn’t you buy wine made with organic grapes?

    These days there are more and more talented winemakers around the world using certified organic grapes and producing gorgeous wines that are becoming easier to find in restaurants and wine shops. Just as there are varying qualities of wines of all types, there are some using organic grapes that are better than others. Try some and find what you like.

    Bottom line — if you don’t want bug and weed killer in your food, then the choices you make with respect to wine should be no different.

    Beth-ann Roth
    Calypso Organic Selections

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