The organic market occupies an important place in our lives now, including in the wine sector. Indeed, more than 1 French person in 2 likes organic wines. And, this way of farming represents a purchase criterion for 4 French people in 10. What about you? Do you favour organic wines over conventional wines?

Do you know the difference between these ways of farming?

The wine sector is a really dynamic field. In 2018, 94 000 ha of vines were conducted in organic farming, which represented 12% of the national vineyard (+20% vs 2017). Various criteria encourage wine makers to convert to the organic farming or more…

What is an organic wine?

An organic wine is elaborated following the organic farming’s’ principles as much on the vine as on the wine cellar, and wine makers have to submit to a European bill of specifications since 2012. The objective is to reduce the use of chemical products in the wine-growing and to preserve both the biodiversity as well as the consumers. Then, organic wines contain less sulphites compared to conventional wines (100mg/L vs 160mg/L)

Vine from Romanin Wine Estate

What is a biodynamic wine?

“Biodynamics is the art of using the gifts and vital forces of nature to create outstanding products.” – Château Romanin.

Vineyard of Beaubois Wine Estate

As organic wines, there is a bill of specifications for the biodynamic farming. However, to receive the Demeter or Biodyvin certification label, the vineyard has to be, first, converted in organic farming such as the Château Beaubois, situated in the south of the Rhône Valley. This way of farming represents another level in the environment compliance. Indeed, biodynamists are more attentive to nature and follow a lunar calendar to know the exact moment when they need to interact with the vine. The moon has an impact on tides; therefore, it can also influence vegetables, including the vine.

What is a nature wine?

The definition of nature wine is still confused, even if a bill of specifications has been released recently. Wine makers, who want to produce a nature wine, are still free to do it without necessarily respect this bill. However, they won’t be allowed to put “nature wine” on their label. Although, there is still disagreements, nature wines receive even fewer human interactions compared to organic and biodynamic wines and with fewer added sulphites (even not at all). The idea of a nature wine is to find a wine that is alive and not standardized.

Go further with vegan wines

You would have understood it, everyone can find happiness in terms of wine. A wine without inputs of animal origin, from now on, it is possible. Indeed, egg white or fish “glue” are often used to clarify the wine, a method that can bother some person. To be considered as vegan wine (which are not necessarily organic, but the majority are), wine makers use a green glue for this step of the elaboration of wines.

Cosmoculture, what is that?

Some winemakers go even further in their approach and practise cosmoculture in the elaboration of their wines. These types of wines get closer to nature wines, wines even more alive. The cosmoculture is a philosophy that goes beyond organic and biodynamic farming and take into consideration terrestrial and cosmic energies into the wine production. Wines from cosmoculture are not really famous yet and few winemakers use this way of farming. In France, only the Viret Estate in the Rhône Valley elaborate its wines with this method.

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