In the world that we live in today, we are more interested in what’s in the product than the fancy labeling and the delightful flavors. The wine industry is making huge strides to take better approaches in producing "cleaner" wines. At one point in time, the term "organic" on wine labels excited consumers, but we’ve found along the way that it needs to be more than just that. The terms "sustainable wines" and "organic wines" both refer to environmentally conscious wine production practices, but they differ in their specific methods, regulations, and focus areas. Below is a quick breakdown in the differences between to two.
Organic Wines
Certification: Organic wines are made from grapes grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or chemical fertilizers. The entire process, from vineyard to bottle, must adhere to strict organic standards set by certification bodies (e.g., USDA Organic in the United States, EU Organic in Europe).
Additives: In organic wine production, the use of additives and processing aids is limited. For instance, sulfites (used as preservatives) are often restricted or banned, depending on the certification. - **Focus**: Organic wine production focuses on maintaining soil health, biodiversity, and the natural ecosystem by avoiding synthetic chemicals and GMOs.
Sustainable Wines
Certification: While sustainable wine production can be certified (e.g., SIP Certified, LIVE Certified), it is broader and less uniform than organic certification. It emphasizes not only environmental practices but also social and economic aspects. -
Practices: Sustainable viticulture might include organic practices but also allows for some synthetic chemicals if deemed necessary. It focuses on long-term environmental stewardship, including water conservation, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and fair labor practices.
Focus: Sustainability in wine production aims to balance environmental health, economic profitability, and social equity, taking a holistic approach to the vineyard, winery, and surrounding community.
Key Differences
Regulation: Organic wines are subject to more stringent regulations regarding chemicals and additives, while sustainable wines have broader guidelines that can include organic practices but also focus on other sustainability metrics.
Flexibility: Sustainable wine production is more flexible, allowing certain practices (like limited use of synthetic chemicals) that organic certification would not. -
Scope: Organic certification primarily concerns agricultural practices and the wine itself, while sustainability encompasses a broader range of environmental, social, and economic factors.
Overall, as we continue to enjoy the wonderful selections of wine, the productions that come from complete sustainable practices would be the cleaner and better choice. On another great note, all of the wine selections on Greekazon come from either organic farming, sustainable practices, or both. Below is a list of some of the wineries:
- Domaine Skouras, Argos: Sustainable Practices
- Douloufakis Winery, Crete: Organic Farming
- Alpha Estate Winery, Amyndeon: Organic Farming & Sustainable Practices
- Kir Yianni Estates, Naoussa: Organic Farming & Sustainable Practices
- Domaine Sigalas, Santorini: Organic Farming
Tap below to purchase your next cleaner Greek wine!
