12.2. Organic Winemaking

Question 1

What is organic winemaking?

Answer 1

• making wine with certified organically-grown grapes

- complying with rules that restrict certain practices from being performed during the winemaking process.

Question 2

Name an organic certification agency. What does it do?

Answer 2

Ecocert

• issues a full list of allowable additives and processes
• indicates where organic raw materials should be used if possible (e.g. organic egg white albumin for fining)
• has a short list of excluded practices

Question 3

In the EU, is the addition of SO2 allowed in organic wine?

Answer 3

Yes, in regulated amounts.

Question 4

In the USA, is the addition of SO2 allowed in organic wine?

Answer 4

No. Requires naturally-occuring SO2 to be less than 10 mg/l.

Question 5

When seen on a US wine label, what does ‘wine made from organic grapes’ mean?

Answer 5

Grapes were grown organically however, the wine could have been make in an inorganic way e.g. adding SO2

Question 6

Who can issue organic certifications? Give examples of each.

Answer 6

1. Associations (Organic Winegrowers New Zealand)
2. Countries (US Department of Agriculture, USDA)
3. EU

Question 7

At what price point do organic wines sell?

Answer 7

Every

Question 8

Why might a producer choose not to obtain an organic certification?

Answer 8

Cost (small)