Typically, when people hear the words organic, sustainable, and biodynamics they don’t associate the three with wine, but a few companies are changing this false sense of perception.
Organic wine is wine made from grapes grown in accordance with principles of organic farming, which typically excludes the use of artificial chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides and herbicides. Some farmers take additional steps beyond standard organic winemaking to apply sustainable farming practices. Examples include the use of composting and the cultivation of plants that attract insects that are beneficial to the health of the vines.
Many wineries have adopted this wine making process over the years, but leading the charge are wineries such as Fetzer Vineyards, Bonterra Vineyards, and Benziger Family Winery. In the early 1980’s before the terms “sustainability and organic” were cool, Fetzer Vineyards was one of the leading pioneers in organic farming, long before organic products were available in the U.S.
Then in the late 80’s Bonterra Vineyards followed suit by producing some of the purist organic grapes known to wines, which has elevated them to become the world’s #1 organic wine brand. Benziger Family Winery joined the trail in the mid 90’s lead by Chris Benziger, who oversaw the transition from conventional wine making to organic farming and even reached biodynamic certification at their home estate in Glen Ellen, Sonoma.
These three wineries have led the charge over the past 30 years well before anyone knew what it meant to be certified organic, sustainable, and biodynamic. Earth day, which is April 22nd, brings great awareness to sustainability around the world. We’re all looking for ways to improve our environment, and to these iconic producers, it starts and ends in the vineyards.
Organic Wine for Earth Day
#EarthDay #EarthOptimism #ProtectOurSpecies