| Wines are available in a number of different | | | | - Made with organic ingredients: They have at |
| types and organic wines are one type that is | | | | least 70% of organically grown grapes and may |
| getting more and more attention these days. | | | | contain sulfite. - Organic: They contain at |
| Organic wines are processed from grapes which | | | | least 95% of ingredients from certified |
| are grown without the use of synthetic | | | | sources. - Some organic ingredients: Thus, |
| fungicides or fertilizers. In vineyards where | | | | before buying organic wine one must know the |
| biodiversity is encouraged, vines are grown | | | | difference between the four categories of |
| with the help of living soil i.e. soil full | | | | organic wine. The wine which is processed |
| of worms and bacteria which helps to draw the | | | | from organically grown grapes and which also |
| maximum level of minerals from soil. The | | | | gives information about its certifying agency |
| wines which are grown in living soil have | | | | is labelled as organic and is sealed by |
| good resistance to disease. Biodiversity also | | | | United States Department of Agriculture as |
| creates an eye catching landscape. Grape | | | | 'organic wine'. Such wine does not contain |
| growing is organic by origin but not all | | | | any added sulfites but can consist of natural |
| vineyards are organic. The United States | | | | sulphites which must be less than 20 parts a |
| Department of Agriculture (USDA) is in charge | | | | million. Sulfite is a preservative of wine |
| of regulations for organic food products. | | | | which is commonly known as sulphur dioxide. |
| USDA defines organic food as 'the food which | | | | Sulfite has antioxidant properties and also |
| is produced by farmers with the help of | | | | some antimicrobial properties. It is a |
| renewable resources and by conversion of | | | | controversial topic whether it is possible |
| water and soil which enhances the quality of | | | | that wine could be sulfite free. The |
| environment for future generations'. Organic | | | | producers of organic wine have to undergo |
| farming is done without the use of harmful | | | | various inspections by the organisations to |
| pesticides or fertilizers or any ionizing | | | | get the organic certification. Reconversion |
| radiation. Before declaring the farm as | | | | is the process by which conventional |
| organic the government inspects the farmland | | | | vineyards are converted to fully organic |
| and checks that the farmer rules of to meet | | | | vineyards. The whole process takes up to 3 |
| the standards set by United States Department | | | | years to complete. The use of non organic |
| of Agriculture. The Alcohol Tobacco and | | | | treatment is strictly prohibited in the |
| Firearms (ATF) did not give permission for | | | | organic vineyards. As per law all the organic |
| wines to be designated as organic. This | | | | claims of wine are to be mentioned on the |
| decision of ATF was challenged by Hallcrest | | | | label so that one can read the label and can |
| Vineyards. Since then few of the wineries | | | | come to know about the contents of the |
| have become certified processors of organic | | | | bottle. Organic wines are a gem of ecosystem. |
| wines. Organic wines are of four types: - | | | | Organic wines do not contain any harmful |
| 100% organic: Produced with 100%organically | | | | ingredients as the conventional wines. |
| grown grapes and contain no added sulphites. | | | | |