You look for the organic label on apples and eggs, but what about when it comes to wine? There’s more to a bottle of wine than just bouquet and alcohol content. In fact, when shopping for the best wine, the organic label may be the most important factor.
We don’t usually think about wine in terms of health, because there are so many other aspects to consider when shopping for the best wine. But once you’ve settled on a region and a grape, the next thing to consider is whether or not it’s organic.
In the same way you qualify food choices, it’s worth taking note of how the wine you drink is grown, or rather with what is grown. The grapes can be treated with all sorts of harmful chemicals — to say nothing of the various preservatives, colorants and other additives. So make the best wine choice possible before you pop the cork!
3 Reasons The Best Bottle of Wine Is Organic
1. Organic wine offers many of the same benefits as organic produce. When a wine is organic it omits the use of up to 240 chemicals inherent in convention viticulture and wine production.
2. Organic wine is produced from grapes grown according to organic farming regulations, which excludes the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides, among others. This is, of course, better for the environment, which should be of concern when choosing a bottle of wine.
2. Sulfites draw a lot of attention in the debate on what constitutes organic wine. Sulfites are used to preserve even the best wine but also carry their share of antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. While an organic bottle of wine may have naturally occurring sulfites as a byproduct of fermentation – must be less than 20 parts per million — it cannot have added sulfites. A wine that says it is made with organically grown grapes may include added sulfites. If the sulfite content of a bottle of wine exceeds 10 parts per million, the wine must reveal this information.
When searching for the best bottle of wine, whether it’s for a dinner party or housewarming present, be sure to pick a wine that’s labeled “organic,” bears the USDA organic seal and provides information about the certifying agency.
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Photo Credit: Uncalno