Organic

In response to decades of destruction of soil and the elimination of the vast microbiology of the vineyard, many viticulturalists are turning toward new ways to return to nature in their winemaking. Becoming certified organic is one way a winery can communicate their desire to make good wine but also respect the land it came from. Wines that are considered organic can be labeled in two ways: ‘Made from Organic Grapes’, which are made from certified organically grown grapes that avoid any synthetic additives, and ‘Organic’, which are made from organically grown grapes and are also made without any added sulfites. Wines labeled organic must be certified by the organic certification organization that operates in the country the wines are coming from. Some organizations that offer this certification are the USDA in the United States, the Soil Association in the United Kingdom, and Ecocert in France. Converting from a conventional vineyard to an organic one is a three-year process that involves regular inspections; producing organic wine is a commitment.