Here in California, a farm can get certified CCOF or as a California Certified Organic Farm if they so desire. The downside is that the absence of sulfites (a natural preservative) means the wine won't have a long shelf life. Translation: a wine labeled "USDA organic" has been made with 100% organically grown grapes and does not have added sulfites. Then you have wines labeled "USDA organic," which means the wine follows organic practices in viticulture and the viniculture (or in the winemaking) process. The first is a wine "made with organic grapes," meaning that all grape growing and farming practices, such as viticulture, follow organic standards. There are two main types of organic wine you'll come across. In the United States, for a wine to be called "organic," it must adhere to the standards of the USDA's National Organic Program, which aims to protect natural resources and promote biodiversity. Of the three terms, "organic" is the most defined because it's a government-regulated term. We could fill a book with the nuanced regulations surrounding these terms worldwide, but let's start with what they mean here in California. The place to start is with another question, namely, "What is the difference between organic, biodynamic, and sustainable wine?" It's California Wine Month, which marks the height of harvest here in the Golden State and, since we produce over 80% of the nation's wine and are the world's 4th largest wine producer, it seems an appropriate time to dive into this very question.ĭefining Organic, Biodynamic, and Sustainable Wines The answers, in case you're wondering, are: hold the stem, not the bowl! Practice smelling and tasting lots and lots! And, well, it depends where the wine is from.īut, of the many questions that arise, arguably the most common for those making a concerted effort to go "green" is "What is sustainable wine?" It could be as straightforward as "Wait, how do you properly hold a wine glass?" as common as "So what's the best way to learn to describe what I'm tasting?" or as complicated as "How do I read a wine label?" There comes a moment in every wine lover's life when they've been to enough tastings, uncorked enough bottles, and sipped enough bubbly that they start to ask questions.
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