When choosing a bottle of wine – whether it’s for an anniversary celebration, a family vacation, or just a simple weeknight dinner – one is met with many choices: organic, natural, biodynamic, “made with organic grapes.”
Why choose organic? What does it actually mean?
When choosing a healthier, more sustainable wine, the choices seem vast. While there is some nuance, ultimately, you will likely find yourself seeing the following labels: organic, natural, biodynamic, and vegan.
Let’s begin with organic. Organic wine is produced with no chemicals. This means that no pesticides or herbicides are used when farming and no sulfites, preservatives, stabilizers, or other additives are added during the winemaking process. Organic wine must be certified to earn its label (more on that in a moment).
Natural wine is made with low or zero-intervention farming practices which can include non-irrigation. Typically, there are also no additives. Unlike organic wine, natural wine does not require any stringent certification, so consumers should be aware of that when selecting this product.