Wine Label Guide: Natural, Biodynamic, Organic and More

Organic Wine

As with certified organic food, certified organic wine refers to wine made using organic principals, including grapes grown without chemicals and pesticides, and free from the sewage sludge present in some fertilizers.

But exactly what certified organic wine actually means depends on where the wine is being produced — and therefore where it is certified. US organic standards (overseen by the US Department of Agriculture) allow for the use of some naturally based pesticides and a few synthetic ones that meet a strict set of regulations. It does not allow for any sulfites to be added. French standards (designated on wine bottles with a green-white logo of “AB – agriculture biologique”) don’t allow for any use of synthetic pesticides but allow for the possibility of some added sulfites. These two sets of standards both differ from Chilean organic standards … and on and on.

In the US it’s also common to see bottles labeled “Made with Organic Grapes,” meaning the grapes grown to produce the wine were organically grown but the wine as a whole cannot be USDA certified organic because it includes additives such as Mega Purple or sulfur, which many winemakers use to keep the wine from going bad.

Takeaway: Organic wine is often easier to find than biodynamic or natural wines and due to strict certification processes you have a clear idea of what you’re getting.

Biodynamic Wine

Developed by Austrian Rudolf Steiner in the 1920s, biodynamic farming is a holistic practice that considers the entire ecosystem instead of simply the end product. As with organic farming, grapes are grown without pesticides and other chemicals. But where a lot of farming practices (sometimes including organic) can degrade the soil, biodynamic farming focuses not only on healthy grapes but also healthy soil (as well as other plants and livestock). There’s also an aspect of biodynamic farming that incorporates the cosmos, linking practices like soil treatments, vine pruning and grape harvesting to the lunar calendar. As with organic wine, vineyards that use biodynamic practices are not all certified as such, and if you’re interested in wine produced in this way your best bet is to ask your local wine shops for recommendations. A certified biodynamic wine is usually certified by Demeter International — or for US-based wines Demeter USA, both of which have lists of certified wines on their websites.

Takeaway: Certified biodynamic wines can be hard to find (as of 2016 only 639 vineyards where certified), but if you do find one, you can be sure  that the biodynamic winemakers paid deep attention to the well-being of the planet.

Natural Wine

Natural wine is having a moment but has no certification process (some natural winemakers actually balk at the idea of the label becoming official) and can refer to multiple grape growing practices. Often the word “natural” on a food label doesn’t carry much meaning, but when it comes to wine, it may be a different story.

Generally speaking, “natural wine” refers to wine produced with little to no intervention. This means that natural winemakers practice organic or biodynamic farming methods: the wine is produced by hand (picking of grapes, destemming and juicing) and they add no chemicals, sulfur or commercial yeasts in the process. By and large, you can taste the results of these production choices in the funky and earthy flavor profile of the wines.

Takeaway: There is no official certification for these wines but it is common to see bottles labeled ‘natural wine.’ These funky, interesting wines are worth a try but in order to learn about the farming and production methods, it’s best to ask the winemaker (if possible) or someone knowledgeable at your local wine shop.

Sustainable Wine

 
Another broad phrase, sustainable wine loosely means wine produced in a way that is good for you, the environment, the farmer and farm workers but there is no one definition or certification process. It can refer to grapes farmed organically, biodynamically or even conventionally, or could mean the vineyard has a focus on renewable resources or water conservation or uses recycled glassware. The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, for instance, offers a sustainable certification that has allowed the use of the pesticide Roundup; its certification requirements differ from other US-based ones including the Long Island Sustainable Winegrowers, and so on.

Takeaway: While these wines encompass a wide range of farming practices, their producers are aware of and trying to mitigate some of the effects of agriculture on the planet. Those interested in these wines should look to the different sustainable alliances to find out exactly how they were produced.

Other Wine Label Terms to Know

Vegan

Many wineries uses animal ingredients such as egg whites, animal milk proteins, gelatins made from cows or pigs, or isinglass made from fish to help speed up the practice of filtering out sediment from grapes. Since there are no vegan wine certifications, with wines marketed as “vegan,” the consumer is trusting that the wines were made without the use of animal products. Websites including Vegan.com,  Barnivore, and VegNews, have regularly updated lists of both vegan wine brands and specific bottles.

Fairtrade

Produced by a vineyard where workers receive a living wage and work in a healthy, safe environment as certified by Fairtrade International.

No Sulfites Added

A small amount of sulfites appear naturally during the fermentation process but many winemakers will add extra sulfites to help prevent oxidation which can cause the wine to go bad. While a tiny portion of the population is allergic to sulfites (the FDA estimates less than 1 percent), there are no other documented health risks associated with sulfites and they’re common in many other foods including dried fruits and even frozen pizza.  In the US, the USDA organic seal guarantees that the wine does not contain any additional sulfates.                  

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