Sometimes, after a busy day of running businesses, investing in our communities, and raising little humans, a glass of wine is absolutely necessary. It can be the perfect way to unwind and celebrate a hard day’s work.
If you like to keep wellness at the center of your life, like us, you likely put a lot of care and thought into the food you consume. Why should your beverages be any different?
More and more vineyards are switching to organic farming and fermentation processes. It is a healthier choice for both the earth and the consumers. Finding organic wines can be more confusing than you would expect though. Requirements for claiming a product is organic differ between the U.S.A. and Europe, and no one likes buying a bottle of wine they don’t enjoy.
Whether you are bringing a bottle to a dinner party or enjoying a glass with a good book at night, we’ve got a selection of wines from some of our favorite vineyards. With these wines, flavor and health go right in hand.
Dry Farm Wines
You can’t talk about organic vineyards without bringing up Dry Farm Wines. Featured in a variety of publications, such as Food Network, O Magazine, and Variety, Dry Farm prides itself on its meticulous, holistic approach to creating organic wines.
As the name suggests, the vineyard is a dry farm, meaning they do not irrigate their farm. Instead, they allow the grapevines to find their own natural water sources. This both makes sure water is not wasted, as well as contributes to the overall health of the grapes.
Their wines are naturally sugar-free. They also happen to have lower alcohol than most conventional wines, which is notable, as alcohol levels continue to rise throughout the wine industry.
They offer a membership program with their Happiness Promise. Don’t like the bottle you were sent? They will either replace the bottle or give you a full refund.
Bonterra Vineyards
Bonterra Vineyards stands out in the world of organic wine by being the world’s first climate-neutral vineyard. This means they neutralize their carbon footprint, by offsetting an equal amount by supporting organizations that preserve forests. They also have reduced their footprint by participating in regenerative farming practices.
Their wines are vegetarian and free of pesticides, artificial flavors, and additives.
Frey Vineyards
Frey Vineyards bills itself as a “biodynamic winery.” This means that they view their farm as a self-sustaining ecosystem. They enrich this ecosystem by incorporating cover crops that are eaten by the animals they keep on their land. In turn, the animals fertilize the land, helping to ensure a healthy grape crop. Additionally, they grow a variety of other foods on the land, helping to add to the diversity of the soil.
All of their wines are organic, vegan, and gluten-free, making them a great healthy choice for your wine cabinet.
Badger Mountain Vineyard
Badger Mountain Vineyards stands out by being the first vineyard in Washington state to be certified organic by the USDA. They pride themselves on coming up with creative alternatives to pesticides and other chemicals. For example, they have their own, custom trellis system to help combat weather challenges that can affect the grape crop. All of their wines are vegan and gluten-free, as well as non-GMO.
Candoni de Zan Wines
If you’ve ever bought an Italian wine, there’s a good chance it has been from Candoni de Zan. As the #1 Italian wine sold in the US, they are a tried and true option with something to please every palate. While they are not a fully organic vineyard, they do have a collection of organic wines, including a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, and Pinot Noir. An important note: because Italian standards are different from the U.S., the only organic part of this wine is the grapes. The fermentation process may contain ingredients that are not organic, such as added sulfites.
Jo Landron Wines
Jo Landron Wines is a French wine brand that has been committed to not using pesticides in the growing process since 1999. A family-run farm, Landron inherited the land from his father, creating a deep connection and passion for the land. This attention to detail is evident even from the harvesting process. The vineyard harvest individual grapes, instead of bunches, to ensure wine quality and better health for the vines.
Barra of Mendocino
Barra of Mendocino has been growing organic grapes since 1955. One of the first farms on the north coast to plant varietals such as Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Riesling, they are experts in the winemaking process. They have always prioritized taking care of the land, and have been certified by California Certified Organic Farmers for over 30 years.
Spottswoode Vineyard
The team at Spottswoode Vineyard began incorporating organic farming in 1985 and has been certified by CCOF since 1992. They focus on cultivating healthy soil to grow grapes in through a combination of cover crops and reestablishing native California grasses. Additionally, they use compost and animal manure to ensure health.
The vineyard makes a point of giving back a portion of their profits to environmental minded organizations like 1% for the planet
Preston Farm and Winery
Family-owned for 45 years, Lou Preston learned to make wine in the 1970s at UC Davis. He now uses that same knowledge, as well as his passion for respectful land ownership to produce his vineyard’s wines. Preston Farm and Winery believe in minimal intervention for the grape growing process, and wine fermentations. This means they do not add commercial yeasts or bacteria to their wines. Instead, they allow the naturally occurring organisms from their biodiverse farms to allow the fermentation process to happen naturally.
Beaver Creek Vineyards
Beaver Creek Vineyards takes a hands-on approach to farming, but a hands-off approach to making the wines. Instead of using human intervention to create specific flavor profiles, they believe in accepting the unique flavors each year’s grape harvest has to offer.
Thanks to the care and artistry of these vineyards, you don’t need to be a sommelier to impress your friends and family with your wine collection!
Do you have a favorite organic wine? Share in the comments below!
