When it Comes to Wine, Should You Go Organic?

It’s no secret that Americans are head over heels for natural products. Our spinach is organic, our cleaning products green and we shop at Whole Foods (which I’ve affectionately heard dubbed as “Whole Paycheck“).  Our next all-natural fixation? Wine.

With wine bottles lining shelves labeled as organic, sustainable and bio-dynamic it’s no wonder that consumers are confused.  Eric Asimov wrote a thoughtful piece in his New York Times wine column, The Pour, that discussed whether natural and organic wines boast benefits over traditional wine.
Asimov suggests that despite the latest push for “natural” wines, consumers should pay attention to the quality and flavor of the wine, rather than the process that created it.

According to Jamie Kluz, wine buyer at Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine in Chicago, IL., many customers attribute organic [sustainable or biodynamic] wines with health benefits.

“I think there is a perception that natural wines are better for the body, better for the environment and better quality products,” Kluz said. “In reality what the difference boils down to is farming: how the grapes are produced.”

So if you’re concerned about the origin of your wine, research before you sip. Organic wines are those with no chemical pesticides or herbicides used.  Bio-dynamic wines are produced in line with a certain set of practices that take the lunar calendar into consideration. Finally, sustainability considers the environment in which grapes are grown; with every effort to maintain the integrity of both the land and its product.

If you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint during 5:00 happy hour, Laura Mohseni, a general manager at Riverbench Vineyard & Winery in Santa Maria, CA., suggests looking for wines that boast sustainability.

“If you choose to drink wine from a vineyard that is mindful of the environment, then there is a certain satisfaction in that,” she said.

As for taste? Let your palate be the judge.

“None [of the terms described above] mean that a bottle of wine will taste any better than a mainstream wine,”  Kluz said. “As far as organic wines go, the benefits are no different than the perceived benefits of eating an organic apple versus a regular apple.”

(Photo Credit: Google Images)