Why Are There Not More Organic Wines?

With a simple trip to the grocery store customers will find organic labeled food on just about every single aisle as more consumers are concerned with just what goes into their body. But a trip to the wine store to fill up Wine Carriers with great bottles to bring home to enjoy does not produce the same results. There are just not very many winemakers creating organic wines that fit the exact requirements to carry the USDA Organic label.  

While many vineyards are organic in many aspects of winemaking the problem lies in the wording of organic and the actual process of making a wine that can be stored for many years. To carry the organic seal a product is not allowed to contain sulfites but for wine this is a critical ingredient to ensure that the vintage will preserve all of its fruit flavors and continue to be fresh despite years of cellaring. Not only are these sulfites added by the winemaker to some degree they also occur naturally in wine.

While it does not appear to be any time soon for the requirements to change for the USDA seal there are other options out there. Winemakers are now using labels such as “natural wine” “biodynamic wine” and more to let consumers know that the product is still green.

via Rhino Wino