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The 15 Best Organic Bottles Of Red, White, Rosé, And Sparkling Wine
Plus, what "organic wine" actually means.
By Maria Miyashiro
Alyssa Gray
You've probably tried organic vegetables—maybe even a box or two of organic mac & cheese. But have you explored the world of organic wines? Let us break it down for you.
What does organic wine mean in the U.S.?
The strictest interpretation of "organic wine" comes from the USDA. They ensure organic wines have grapes grown without all the chemicals—synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides—and that all additional ingredients are also certified organic. Those additional ingredients include things that aren't always listed on the label, like egg whites or rennet, which is found in cheese. Additionally, organic wines cannot have any added sulfites. That's mostly a good thing, except for that it slightly reduces the shelf-stability of your bottle.
Bottles labeled "made with organically grown grapes" instead of just "organic" indicate that the grapes are grown organically, but all other ingredients aren't necessarily. Sulfites are permitted up to a certain percentage.
What about organic wine from the rest of the world?
European organic wines, sometimes labelled "bio," follow similar guidelines to the U.S.'s and are "made with organically grown grapes." Other wineries from around the globe may maintain sustainable, green practices but don't have "organic" written on their bottles.
OK, I'm reading to pop some (organic) bottles!
Great, because we've scanned a bunch of labels and picked out our favorite sustainable wines—all for you. Cheers!
Jean-Charles Boisset (that's JCB, FYI) is the visionary behind this winery, and he implements organic and biodynamic farming across all estate vineyards. He also knows Chrissy Teigen and John Legend (!!!) and co-created a couple wines with John Legend himself. Those bottles can be a little pricey but this one comes as a steal. This sparkling rose is fruit-forward and refreshing with jammy raspberry notes.
Schramsberg Winery practices land conservation and stewardship as acknowledged through the Napa Green Certified Winery and Land Programs. This Chardonnay-based bottle of bubbles is aged for seven years before its release, resulting in a dense and layered wine. The flavors of green apple, pear, and honey pop right out of the glass.
Notes of white peach and grapefruit are balanced with lemongrass and fresh-cut grass in this clean, crisp Sauvignon Blanc. Just what you'd want from a New Zealand white. These Marlborough-grown grapes are certified sustainable by the Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand Organization.
Hahn Winery is recognized as a leader in sustainability since all estate vineyards are Sustainability in Practice (SIP)-certified. They aim to make decisions that will benefit generations to come through strict farming practices. This Chardonnay is classically Californian, with notes of pineapple lemon and toasty vanilla.
A to Z is committed to sustainability and fair value, from their farming to their business practices. In doing so, they've been named a "Best for the World" company five times by the B Corp. This brightly balanced wine showcases Meyer lemon, apple, and honeysuckle. It's intended to pair with literally any dinner so get funky and play around.
This family-owned winery is dedicated to producing quality, value-driven wines, but another one of their main priorities is being sustainable. Being certified by California Certified Organic Farmers in 1988 made them a major leader for the industry. Just as their organic practices are celebrated, so are their wines. This lovely Sauvignon Blanc tastes of stone fruit, green apple, and perky citrus.
Pratsch is an organic-certified winery that combines tradition with sustainable winemaking practices. This family aimed to use these practices to improve the quality of the soil and, therefore, the wine. This delicate Gruner Vetliner has notes of apple and peach, speckled with fine spices and white pepper.
Brimming with bright red fruits and slight earthiness, this organic pink wine is friendly and approachable. Wine critic Wilfred Wong describes it as a "pure and frisky" wine intended for "real food lovers" (ahem, that's us). We'll take a case, kthxbye.
Hampton Water is a collab between Jon Bon Jovi, his son Jesse Bongiovi, and renowned winemaker Gérard Bertrand. They aimed to make a wine reflective of both the South of France and the Hamptons. Ambitious? Sure, but they succeeded in creating a critically-acclaimed wine bursting with flavors of watermelon, wild strawberries, and white peach. "Shot through the heart, and you're to blame" @ Hampton Water Rosé.
This red wine blend is made with the organic grapes of Merlot and Petite Syrah. It has notes of blackberry and plum mixed with oak, tobacco, and vanilla. The winemaker related making this blend to cooking—adding their favorite ingredients, or in this case organic varietals.
The young, celebrated winemaker, Arianna Occhipinti has been growing biodynamic grapes for over a decade. She believes that these farming methods have added to the overall expression in the soil, and thusly the wine. Native Frappato grapes thrive on the volcanic soils of Sicily to create a lighter and floral wine.
12
Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir
12
Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley Vineyards is a collective of over 16,000 owners with the common goal of producing world-class wines. It's no surprise then that Wine Enthusiast Magazine named them, "One of America's Greatest Pinot Noir Producers." The plentiful owners ensure all grapes are sourced from estates that practice environmentally sustainable farming. This Pinot Noir tastes of blackberry, caramel, and baking spices.
Yalumba, founded in 1849, is one of the most historic family-owned wineries in Australia. They believe that sustainable practices lead to healthier, more biodiverse vineyards and better wines. This Shiraz is full and fleshy, with notes of ripe plum and anise. Bonus: Yalumba has Shiraz vines that are more than a century old.
Big and bold—just how we like our California Cabs. This bottle is layered with flavors of plum, cassis, leather, and coffee. The family-owned winery prides itself on having estate-grown wines that are grown in an isolated part of the Paso Robles region. In addition, Ancient Peaks protects their native environment by earning their SIP (Sustainability in Practice) Certification.
This Pinot Noir is a delicate one with aromas of violets and raspberries. It's created by a husband and wife duo that have been in the wine industry for most of their lives. They source from small farmers in California with the same sustainability mindset they hold.