8th September 2021 | Cork Talk | 7 minute read
We take a closer look at the trend that’s sweeping across the wine and spirit making world, changing the drinks industry dramatically. Grab your headphones, plug in and have a little scroll to hear all about organics from some of the producers and drinks industry experts who are living and breathing this new way of life.
If you’re a bit of a wine buff, we suspect organic wines have been on your radar for a little while now. But many of us were probably not aware that organic agriculture has become so huge that we are now in the month that’s known as Organic September in the food and drinks industry calendar. So, what better time to explore organics in more detail than now?
Let’s start by taking it back to basics. Leading UK Wine Writer and good friend of Virgin Wines, Matthew Jukes, gives us an overview of what exactly ‘organic’ means in our world, and why it’s a movement he’s backing all the way.
As Matthew says, it only makes sense that the wine world takes more notice of organics, with the general rise in demand for organic farming and organic food. And European wine regions are at the forefront of this shift to organic processes and ethos.
It’s all about being free from chemicals and letting nature do its thing. An organic vineyard is one that’s full of life, but it’s an ecosystem that requires careful attention and constant monitoring to ensure the grapes naturally remain juicy and healthy. The process of converting a traditional vineyard into a completely organic one takes three years, as it can take this long for any chemicals used in the soil and on the vines to fade away. Only at this point can a producer achieve the official title of ‘organic’ certified vineyard.
As highlighted by Matthew, it’s actually European producers, namely in France, Spain and Italy, who are swiftly shifting to organic processes and leading the movement. One of the greatest examples of this being Nicola and Sean Allison of Château du Seuil, who have successfully transformed their vineyard in traditional Bordeaux into a forward-thinking organic winemaking estate.
With a background in medicine, Nicola was always wary of the side effects chemicals used in agriculture could have on the consumer. And, with bringing up their children on the vineyard, the desire to switch to clean agricultural practices became even greater in order to minimise anything in their surroundings that could be potentially unhealthy. As for the wines, it meant the blends would have a purity and would be free from pesticides and fungicides – which, in Nicola’s eyes, was yet another good thing from a health and lifestyle point of view.
As Nicola says, it’s a much more hands-on approach, and a labour of love to achieve a healthy harvest without the use of man-made chemicals to protect the grapes from insects and the elements. Nicola and Sean are a great winemaking team to explore if you’re after classic French vino made organically. In their range you’ll find everything you’d expect from a prestigious Bordeaux vineyard, including Cabernet reds and rosés, crisp white Sauvignons, and a Sémillon-based dessert wine that’s absolutely divine!
Organic winemaking may be really taking off in Europe, but it’s a practice that’s actually better suited to warmer, drier climates. As producers in New World wine regions are starting to realise this, we’re seeing more and more wineries in South America, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia joining the organic movement.
The Emiliana winery in Chile is following in France’s footsteps, producing beautiful wines that are 100% organic. In fact, since converting to organic practices over the last few years, head Winemaker at Emiliana, Alvaro Espinosa, has managed to transform his Chilean estate into the world’s largest organic winery. A pretty impressive feat!
For Alvaro, “the most important thing is to express the natural character of each grape without interfering with the natural cycles of the vineyard. Being organic is not a marketing tag, it’s the best way to make better wine!”. His philosophy is keeping it pure so his wines can be a true expression of the terroir that created them, and this can be seen in the bright and flavoursome Coyam 2017.
Meanwhile, over in New Zealand and Australia, we’re seeing winemakers transitioning to organic practices, although it’s a different ballgame for these guys. Unlike their European counterparts, who can achieve ‘organic’ status after three years of being chemical-free, for Australian winemakers it can take the best part of ten years to get certification! Our friend Michael Anderson of McLaren Vale‘s Fuse Wine Team, explains a little more about the current state of play in the Aussie winemaking scene.
As Micheal says, part of the appeal is being able to produce wines in a way that looks after the ecosystem in which the grapes were grown. And it’s this ever-growing collective consciousness to look after our planet that will likely drive more winemakers to make the change.
There are no signs of the organic trend slowing down in the drinks world. In fact, it’s become as important in spirit production as it is in winemaking. We’re seeing many gin distillers opting for organically grown ingredients to use as botanicals in their blends, both for environmental reasons as well as a strive for purity of flavour. While increasing numbers of brandy, whisky and rum producers are ensuring their base material of fruit, grain or sugar cane is grown organically.
Our Head Spirits Buyer, Dave Roberts has noticed the trend gaining momentum, and agrees with the organic philosophy.
“The rise in demand for organic produce isn’t abating anytime soon, and more and more of us are keen to know that what we’re eating and drinking is not having a negative impact on the environment or our bodies. At Virgin Wines, we’ve always worked closely with producers who work in a sustainable manner and respect the land around them. We currently have a small range of organic spirits, however, we will 100% be growing this part of our portfolio over the coming months to offer a wider selection of the world’s finest feel good spirits”.
So, watch this space for more organic spirits to be added to our range. And, in the meantime, browse our organic wine range if you fancy sampling some of the good stuff this Organic September.
