Because of the public demand for food items that are safe and free of harsh chemicals and pesticides, organic foods have started to crop up everywhere. Many consumers are now turning to organic versions of their favorite meals, beverages, and grocery shopping items. To meet the demand for organic products, even vineyards are turning to organic wines to entice consumers to try something different. If you’ve always wondered what the idea was behind organic wine, it’s time to find out.

We see the word “organic” just about everywhere these days but what does it mean when this word is associated with wine? By definition, organic wine is classified as being made from organically grown grapes and is free of added sulfites. Although wine has been a favorite drink all over the world since the beginning of time, present day concerns now center on the way the grapes are grown and maintained. Many do not approve of the pesticides used on the grapes, making some consumers uncomfortable. Organic wines eliminate the whole pesticide occurrence altogether, adding to its public appeal.

There are a variety of organic wines available today, all with their own labels and classifications. Some of the most common organic labels read: biodynamic, organic, 100% organic, and made with organic grapes/made with organic ingredients. Biodynamic means that the company growing the wine has made an effort to keep the entire process as natural as possible, such as using homemade compost. This method of wine making is seen as maintaining the balance between nature and the farming process needed to cultivate the grapes. “Organic” means that the wine contains 95% organically grown ingredients. “100% Organic” means the wine not only contains 100% organically grown ingredients, but has also been closely monitored throughout the production process. “Made with organic grapes,” and “made with organic ingredients” means that the wine has at least 70% organically grown ingredients. This type of wine may also contain some artificial sulfites.

The issue with wine and added sulfites has been around for some time. Sulfites are a natural compound and are used to keep microbes from growing on the food in question. Wine makers use sulfites to keep the wine barrels clean and prevent organisms from growing on the wine itself. However, some people are allergic to sulfites, while there are others that feel sulfites possess the same health threats that pesticides do. This is where organic wine breaks away from traditional wine making. While no wine can be 100% free of sulfites, those that are labeled as such actually contain less than 10 parts per million of sulfite. Even though that means the wine still contains sulfites, its small amount is typically not enough to trigger an allergy or health issues.

Related Articles
	Say Cheers to Wine and Your Health In addition to healthy foods and supplements, you can now add a bottle of your favorite wine to your list of nutritional must have items. Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or trying it out for the first time, a little wine can’t hurt! Find out what a glass of wine can do for your health and why medical   ...Read more		An Organic Diet For the Skin: Can It Really Work By all accounts, it seems the answer would be yes. Organic products, at the least, definitely help our skin by improving our all-around health. Since organics have made quite a splash on the isles of our grocery store and in the skin-care and beauty industry , this probably isn`t news to you.     ...Read more