How can I find wines made without pesticides, chemicals or additives?
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Dear Dr. Vinny,
In the United States, how can you buy wine that contains minimal added chemicals and is farmed in an environmentally friendly way? I have been reading about organic and biodynamic wines and think it might make sense to seek them out. Could you tell me more about them?
—Patti, Lakewood, Colo.
Dear Patti,
What a great question for Earth Day! The good news is that there are plenty of sustainable and green initiatives happening in the wine world, and consumers have more options and transparency than ever. (Read our guide to being an environmentally friendly wine lover to learn more!)
While wines made from grapes that have been treated with pesticides and other chemicals are not believed to present a health risk, they do impact the environment. One way to avoid chemicals used in traditional agriculture is to look for wines “made from organically grown grapes,” which means that the grapes are harvested from vineyards free of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides (such as the widely used herbicide glyphosphate). While organic farming does allow copper and sulfur sprays, it prohibits synthetic chemicals.
Wines certified as “organic” by the USDA take things one step further. In addition to being made from organically grown grapes, only approved materials—and no sulfites—can be added during winemaking. Since small amounts of sulfites are produced during fermentation, organic wines are permitted to contain under 10 parts per million.
Beyond organic certification, some winemakers choose to embrace biodynamic practices, which focus on creating a self-sustaining, biodiverse ecosystem. Biodynamic winegrowers take organic farming as a baseline and add practices such as composting and applying homeopathic treatments rather than chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Biodynamic winemaking also prohibits the use of certain additives, including commercial yeast.
There are many other certifications out there, including certified sustainable, fish-friendly farming and regenerative farming, many of which include social and economic responsibility as requirements for certification. Most of these incorporate or build on organic or biodynamic practices and restrict synthetic pesticides or chemical additives.
The good news is that these days, there’s generally much more transparency about environmental stewardship, including what kind of treatments a winegrower is using in the vineyard. A visit to a winery’s website will often tell you more about what initiatives they’re undertaking to keep the earth healthy.
—Dr. Vinny
