Organic and Biodynamic Red Wine

The term "Organic" Red Wine is not as straight forward as it may seem and only means that the Red Wine process has met certain standards set by the government agency in charge.  Although grapes can be grown organically, the process of wine making is not organic.  Many Red Wines are technically "Organic" but choose not to be labeled as such, while some choose to label themselves as "Natural".  The standards set forth for organic grape growing and the subsequent wine making process are a healthier alternative for the local ecology and vineyard workers.  Thus comes the topic of "Sulfites".  Since the process of making Red Wine is a more "natural" process many wine makers are able to leave the addition of sulfites out of the process.  This is great for those who have a bad reaction to sulfites, like those who get bad headaches when drinking sweet wines or white wines, wines that are notorious for their need of added sulfites.

Biodynamic wines are made using the principles of biodynamic agriculture where the Red Wine is made from biodynamic grapes. The practice of biodynamics in grape growing has become popular in recent years and many of the top estates in France follow biodynamic grape growing. There are currently more than 450 biodynamic Red Wine producers worldwide including Australia, France, Italy and California.

Biodynamic grape growing stems from the ideas of the Austrian born Rudolph Steiner who gave his famous Agriculture Course in 1924. The principles and practices of biodynamics are based on his philosophy which includes understanding the ecological, the energetic, and the spiritual in nature. As a practical method of farming, biodynamics embodies the ideal of ever-increasing ecological self-sufficiency just as with modern agro-ecology, but includes ethical and spiritual considerations as well.

Some grape growers who have adopted biodynamic methods claim to have achieved improvements in the health of their vineyards specifically in the areas of biodiversity, soil fertility, crop nutrition, and pest, weed, and disease management.

In a blind tasting of 10 pairs of biodynamic and conventionally-made wines judged by seven wine experts, nine of the ten biodynamic wines were found to be superior to their counterpart. These biodynamic wines were found to express better representation of terroir, aroma, texture and flavor. Biodynamic winemakers claim to have noted stronger, clearer, more vibrant tastes, as well as wines that remain drinkable longer and are better balanced in terms of grape growth and ripeness. Some critics attribute the success of biodynamic viticulture to the winemakers' higher craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail.