Week 47 - Eco-Wine

Eco-wine. Hmmm. I don’t know.

To start, I should tell you I really enjoy wine and try to have a glass every day for “health” reasons. Before you laugh, research shows drinking about 6 oz. of red wine daily is good for the heart. Studies have also shown it can protect against Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other neurological diseases and has been shown to inhibit the growth of certain types of cancer. That being said, I am in no way a wine snob. In fact I am just the opposite. I believe there is an abundance of lovely, drinkable wines in the $10 - $12 per bottle range. The key word here is drinkable. So are eco-wines truly drinkable? The general consensus is, they've come a long way (apparently they needed to because they weren't very good), and are worth a second look. Below I have outlined what you need to know before making your first eco-wine purchase.

The Key Terms

Organic

To be considered organic, a winery must meet stringent rules outlined by the USDA. The winery must use grapes that have been organically grown. This means no genetically modified seeds, no fertilizers from sewer sludge (yuck), or pesticides. Additionally, these wines must not contain any added sulfites and the vineyard must be inspected every year to ensure they are adhering to the guidelines.

Biodynamic

This is considered the most environmentally sensitive form of agriculture. Biodynamic farmers plant, prune and harvest according to the phases of the moon and apply compost teas.

According to thegreenguide.com “biodynamic standards are older than organic, but very closely allied in their promotion of sustainable practices and elimination of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers“. For more information about biodynamic wines, visit demeter-usa.org.

Sulfites

All wines contain naturally occurring sulfites; it’s what keeps wine from spoiling in the bottle. A lot of people are very sensitive to sulfites and can experience physical reactions that range from headaches and asthma to in rare instances death. USDA certified organic wines must not contain any added sulfites. This is tricky as it makes the wine more susceptible to spoilage. You wouldn’t really consider an organic wine for aging as the whites have about an 18th month shelf life and the reds about 8 years.

If you want to store an organic wine you may want to opt for one with added sulfites. Rather than the USDA certified organic label, the wine will be labeled “made with organic grapes”.

Sustainable

Tricky, tricky! This can mean a number of things. It could mean the winery is in the process of becoming certified organic or it could mean the growers try to farm in an environmentally conscious way. It could also just be a marketing term tossed around to appeal to the ever growing segment of the population that is becoming environmentally sensitive.

Be aware, there are no criteria set out by a governing body which must be met in order to label your wine sustainable. Take time to do your research.

LIVE/Salmon Safe (from thegreenguide.com)

LIVE (liveinc.org), Oregon viticulture industry's Low Input Viticulture and Enology label was put in place to ensure that Oregon vineyards remain disease-free, as they have been historically, while limiting the use of chemical pesticides. Certified by the International Organization for Biological Control, LIVE promotes planting of species appropriate to local conditions, reliance on beneficial insects, fungi and plants, and increased biodiversity.

Salmon Safe (salmon safe.org/wine/wine list.cfm) is a Northwest eco-label for agricultural practices that restores watershed conditions to allow salmon to spawn and thrive. It works in partnership with LIVE to promote runoff control, planting trees near streams and utilizing integrated pest management. Vineyards are inspected by an independent contractor (often an organic certifier) to ensure compliance with both LIVE's and Salmon Safe's standards.

Where to Find Eco-Wines

So now that we know what the terms mean, where can we buy the wine (note: they will be more expensive)?

1) An Online Wine Club (not all states allow wine to be sent through the mail)

• EcoVine Wine Club (ecovinewine.com; $39/month for two bottles)
  
• Organic Connection (fwbchicago.com; $38/month for three bottles)


• Organic Wine Company (theorganicwinecompany.com; $47/month for two bottles)

There are a ton of wine stores on the internet, but not all ship to all states. Some stores like Organic Wine Company have occasional free shipping. They currently have a free shipping special where they will send you 3 bottles of wine with the shipping and handling fees waived. They also ship to PA.

2) Storefronts

• Whole Foods Market (whole foods.com)


• Check out wines shops in your area

Unfortunately in PA we have state stores. In an online search of their website, only one organic wine was available. Since I regularly visit our local store, I’m going to talk to them about getting some organic options in and see what happens.

3) Restaurants

This may be the simplest and least expensive way to sample organic wine. The next time you are dining out, take a look at the wine list and see if the restaurant offers any organic, bio-dynamic, or sustainable wines. Although the cost of wine by the glass is ridiculous, it’s a relatively inexpensive way to see if you will like it before committing to an entire bottle.

So when it comes to eco-wine the caveat is: read the label. You now know the terms, so you can assess if the additional cost is warranted. It may be worth paying a few dollars more for a nice USDA certified organic wine; however, paying more for a wine labeled “sustainable” may not be wise. In the end it comes down to how the wine tastes and only you can be the judge of that. For me, I’m always willing to give something a try, but this is definitely one band-wagon I’ll jump off, if the drink ability isn’t there.

À votre santé! To your health!