My, My, What Beautiful Grapes You Have There!
By: Stephanie Benney
Even though the holidays are behind us, we are still making those plans to get together with those we couldn’t see over Christmas and New Year’s. Sometimes, getting a holiday present in February is one of the best surprises of the year!
Bringing a gift for the hostess is always in good taste, especially when someone is working hard to plan a menu, cook, clean and entertain you in their home. Why not bring an organic bottle of wine that can be shared and enjoyed together over dinner and trips down memory lane?
Why and what is organic wine, you may ask? For starters, conventional wines are made using pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. When pesticides are sprayed on grapes, they end up in the residue of the wine. There are also systemic pesticides which are sprayed on the ground, absorbed by the vine and end up as residue in the wine. Doesn’t sound too palate pleasing, does it?
There are four categories that organic wines can claim: 100% Organic, Organic, Made with organic ingredients and some organic ingredients. Because these categories now define organic wine, it is important to understand them so you know what you are really buying.
By definition, a true organic wine is a wine bearing the USDA organic seal, made with certified 100% organically grown grapes and no added sulfates. It is also responsible for giving information about who the certifying agency is.
What is all this business about sulfate levels? Sulfates or sulfur dioxide aid in the preservation of wines. When you hear people talk about how different wines affect them differently, it is due to the sulfate level. A wine may have no added sulfates, but still contain naturally occurring sulfates. If sulfates are added and the total number is above 10 parts per million, then the label must state, “Contains Sulfates”. A wine that claims “Sulfate Free” must not have any detectable sulfates. This means that the sulfate level is not substantial enough to be detected by ATF (the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) analysis.
Ok, so are these wines any good? Not only are they just as affordable, organic wines are every bit as good as conventional wines (minus the nasty pesticides, herbicides and fungicides). Many people think they taste cleaner and more flavorful. Many organic vineyards are harvested by hand, not machine, yielding only the ripest, most perfect grapes.
While learning about organic wines this past summer, I was given the opportunity to chat with a representative from Natural Merchants Selections; of course, sampling was involved. One of my favorites was Vertvs Organic Tempranillo Crianza. The nose of this wine is vibrant with notes of red cranberry, red raspberry, heat, cooked cherries and raisins. The mouth boasts the same flavors in the top notes, but finishes soft with hints of blueberries.
This Tempranillo is made from USDA National Organic Program Certified Grapes and is certified by ECOCERT. It is highly recommended by the Beverage Tasting Institute with an 88 point rating and received a Silver Medal in the WORLD WINE CHAMPIONSHIPS AWARD.
So, the next time you are at the Wine and Spirits gearing up for your next dinner party, browse around and pay attention to the labels and grades of organic. You may not enjoy your “Old Faithful Cabernet” as much as you once did.
Stephanie Benney is a “Sustainable Visionary” and also the new Pittsburgh Representative for Fuzed Marketing, where she helps companies increase their brand presence. stephaniebenney@yahoo.com