Organic Wine
The rules and methods for producing organic grapes and wine are still evolving. This usually depends on the country of origin and the various governing organizations involved. France, for example, legally defined organic farming in 1981 as “farming which uses no synthetic chemical products.” Current U.S. regulations mandate that winemakers who use organically grown grapes and add sulfites use the phrase “made with organic grapes.” For a wine to be labeled “organic,” no added sulfur is permitted. Confusingly, in the E.U., Canada and elsewhere, wines labeled “organic” are permitted a minimal amount of added sulfur. In most cases, organic wines are fermented from grapes grown without the use of synthesized fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. In organic wines, natural yeasts are often used during production.
