Why Organic?
Many of our clients choose to serve organic wines at their weddings and events. The topic of which wine is ‘certified organic’ can be a little confusing. Many wineries practice organic farming; however, they do not have their CCOF certification. This means they are not allowed to label their wine as organic, however their wine is sustainably and organically produced.
Basically, an organic wine is made from organically grown grapes produced within the strict guidelines of organic wine processing which is reviewed by the National Organic Program. Other wineries make their wine from organic grapes, meaning that the fruit is produced without using conventional pesticides and fungicides. More frequently you will find wineries that practice sustainable farming practices, meaning that they use farming techniques that protect the environment, public health and animal welfare. Still others are biodynamic, meaning that they practice a very strict method of agriculture, which recognizes the basic principles in nature, and they strictly adhere to these principles when producing their wines.
John Williams, the owner of Frogs Leap has been a persuasive advocate for organic and dry farming for over two decades and co-founder of the Rutherford Dust Society. He speaks so beautifully about organic agriculture:
“I sometimes think of my own health and the health of a vineyard as a three-legged pot. If personal health or organic growing is one leg and environmental health or sustainable farming is the second, what is the third? In our own lives we know that to be healthy and happy we must eventually consider our spiritual health. Believe it or not this is also true for plants and indeed all living organisms. Grapevines exist as a natural living stream that reflects from deep in their soil to the cosmos above. Biodynamic farming, based on the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, is one of the ways that we at Frogs Leap are studying to learn more about the natural spiritual world of the living systems around us. Drawing on the elements of homeopathy, using the natural cycles of the moon and planetary alignments and immersing ourselves in the deeper understanding of the farm as a living system can all lead to healthier vineyards. A pot that stands firmly on three legs.”
The following is a partial list of some of the wineries committed to the practice of organic, biodynamic or sustainable agriculture and practices. Some have their CCOF certification for organic, and some do not, but all are focused on making the best wine possible in the most environmentally conscious way.
- Araujo Estate — Biodynamic and Organic
- Casa Nuestra – Sustainable and Organic
- Ehlers Estate – Biodynamic and Organic
- Far Niente and Nickel & Nickel – Sustainable and Organic
- Frog’s Leap — Certified Organic and Sustainable
- Grgich Hills – Biodynamic, Certified Organic
- Inglenook — Certified Organic and Sustainable
- Joseph Phelps Vineyards – Sustainable, Biodynamic
- Long Meadow Ranch – Certified Organic
- Peju Province — Certified Organic
- Robert Keenan Winery — Sustainable Farming
- Robert Sinskey – Biodynamic, Organic, Sustainable
- Shafer Vineyards – Solar and Sustainable Farming
- Silver Mountain Vineyards – Certified Organic
- Staglin Family Vineyard – Certified Organic
- Spottswoode — Certified Organic
- Spring Mountain Vineyards — Sustainable
- Tres Sabores — Certified Organic
- ZD Wines — Certified Organic
Photo credit: Julie Kay Kelly Photography