The Spectrum of "Clean" Wine

Without labeling requirements on wine, it can be challenging to suss out what's what.

Wine is such a nuanced product, and I'm not trying to oversimplify it. Below is my breakdown of the spectrum of clean wine.

Mass market

- Grapes usually grown with “‘cides”... pesticides, etc.

- Can have up to 350 ppm added sulfites (this is the allowable amount as outlined by the TTB)

- Some contain GMO yeast

- Many include synthetic additives to manipulate the taste, “mouth feel”, etc.

- Some add colorings and dyes such as "mega purple" to change the color

Sustainable Wine

- Vineyards managed ecologically and in an environmentally friendly way

- They generally only apply “cides” when needed

- Sometimes includes a type of winemaking called dry farming, which is when vines aren’t irrigated. The only water used to water the vines is rain water.

- Criteria for "sustainable" wines varies. Be sure to look for a certification on the bottle label.

Organic Wine*

- No synthetic “cides”

- May use organic yeast or additives, but no synthetic additives

- No added sulfites... Which means the shelf life is super short. Sulfites help stabilize wine. If you are in the 1% of the population that is allergic to sulfites, organic wine is a great option for you... Just don't let it age.

*A sub category of organic wine is wine "made with organic grapes"... It can have more sulfites added than the above, but the grapes are grown without the use of 'cides. These wines generally have less additives, but there are always exceptions to that rule.

Biodynamic Wine

- Beyond organic!

- No "cides” at all, and they even employ homeopathic growing practices (ie the lunar calendar... sort of woo woo, but cool!)

- Made with organic or wild yeast

- No chemical intervention whatsoever

- Most Biodynamic was is certified by Demeter. Demeter is basically a gold standard, as it is stricter than any government standards regarding winemaking.

🍷 Important note- It’s very hard to become USDA certified organic in the US! Many importers actually import wines that are certified or practicing organic in other countries... you just need to dig for these.