The concept of organic wine refers to grapes grown without the use of pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers, and no other chemical additives to the wine. But, when you wander through the wine shop for organic wines you may be confused by the different levels of “organic” found on the labels.

When the label says “100% Organic” this means that the wines are made from certified organic grapes and no sulfites have been added in its creation. This is the most pure form of wine possible.

If you see “Organic Wine” on the label then 95% of the wine’s ingredients are certified organic. The other 5% is usually yeast.

American organic wine
labels that have the words “made from organically grown grapes” or “organically grown” means the vineyards have complied with the organic certifying agency of the state in which the wine was made. These wines may have sulfites added though.

French organic wines
may be labeled as such without certification.  If you are looking for a certification from the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) you may find a stamp from Eco-Cert, Terre et Vie, or Nature et Progrés on the label.

The whole organic movement is spreading around the world in an effort to get back to the natural properties of foods and to avoid the chemicals that cause health issues. In fact, organic wines have become more popular in Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, and the U.S. over the last few years.  And, while many vineyards are following organic standards and using sustainable agriculture, using environmentally friendly techniques, some large vineyards have decided not to get certified.\

Why not get the wines certified organic? Because it’s a lot of hassle for vineyards. And, which organization should they get certified with?  Since there is no centralized international organic wine certification, the rules are different with each certification.  Organically certified wine is such a new issue, the regulations for determining a truly organic wine is changing all the time. This can be expensive for vineyards to comply with an ever moving target.

Sulfites in Wine

Sulfur dioxide is added to wine in small amounts to maintain freshness and prevent oxidation. When the sulfur dioxide dissolves in the wine, it destroys impurities and creates sulfites. Some people have allergies to sulfites and experience headaches.

Organic wine has no added sulfites, but sulfites are a naturally occurring result of fermentation, coming from the skin of the grapes. So organic wines must maintain a level of sulfites less than 100 parts per million (ppm).

If you are concerned with added sulfites, you should be aware that European wines have significantly more sulfites than American wines. Also, white wines need twice the sulfites red wines do.

Benefits of Organic Wine

Organic wines are made with no added chemicals or preservatives.  This makes for a healthier wine.  But for wine lovers it also means a richer tasting wine, in which the full flavor of the fruit can be enjoyed.

Red wine is different from white wine in several aspects including how it’s made, proper serving temperatures, and its health benefits. It also has developed a reputation as a robust, rich drink to be savored with a cigar or a good steak.  It is the masculine wine

when red wine is made, it gets its color from the grape’s skin. The grapes are crushed and the skins are left in the juice.  Tannins and flavanoids, healthy antioxidants, are naturally occurring substances found in the grape skins that are released into the wine.  Since the skins are left in during the winemaking process, red wines have a much higher level of flavanoids and tannins than white wine.

Health Benefits

Everyone knows red wine has healthy affects on the body, but what are those health benefits? And why are they mostly present in red wine and not white?
Because red wine is made by leaving the grape skins in for a period of time, the antioxidant flavanoids have a chance to be released into the wine.  Studies have shown that antioxidants like catechins and resveratrol prevent free-radicals from destroying cells in the body.  They also boost the immune system, prevent some types of cancer, and prevent heart disease.

Serving Recommendations

Red wine should be served at a warmer temperature than white wine. 57-68 °F is a perfect temperature for reds.  Room temperature is thought to be reasonable for red wine.  However, some prefer it a bit cooler during the summer. Nowadays, every wine seems to have its own glass.  Generally red wine is served in a larger bowl shaped glass than white wines, but red can be served in a traditional 10 oz wine glass.  Keep in mind that when serving red wine, you should never fill the glass more than two thirds full. Some European studies and a 2003 Harvard study has demonstrated that resveratrol may prevent Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease by preserving cognitive function in the elderly. 

Keep in mind that healthful benefits of red wine come from moderate consumption of one to two glasses a day.  Anything more than that and the healthful effects decrease.  So, more is definitely not better in this case.

Red Wine Aging

After wine has been in the bottle for a while, it changes. The strong fruity tastes begin to mellow. the astringent tannins in red wine relax and start feeling smooth in your mouth. Once the strong tannins take a backseat, the more subtle flavors can make an appearance.
With age, red wine’s most powerful flavors subside and all the smells and tastes will blend and swirl together. And people pay a premium for that process. But if you love cabernet because of all the blackberry fruit tastes, you might not like it to be aged. And, let’s not forget the time and trouble of storing the wine to enable the aging process.  This alone can drive up the cost of premium aged red wine.