Although sustainability has become commonplace in the wine industry, the term is often used incorrectly and rarely fully understood. With the plethora of certifications appearing on labels, we give you an overview of organic, biodynamic, and other certification programs to help you understand what it all means.
Sustainability:Organic products
Organic products are a set of agricultural and food production standards that producers must meet in order to be certified organic. They aim to reduce environmental impact, promote biodiversity and ensure animal welfare.
Among the fundamental guidelines for organic agriculture and production, in the context of wine, are:
- No strict use of pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, or chemical fertilizers (out of about 300 pesticides allowed by EU legislation, only 20 are allowed by organic standards, all derived from natural ingredients).
- Exclusive use of natural fertilizers
- Strict prohibition of the use of GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) yeasts.
- The addition of sulfites is permitted (in the EU), but the total permitted levels are lower than for non-organic wines 100 mg/L for red wines (vs. 150 mg/L for conventional wines) and 150 mg/L for white and rosé wines (vs. 200 mg/L).
Although sustainability has become commonplace in the wine industry, the term is often used incorrectly and rarely fully understood. With the plethora of certifications appearing on labels, we give you an overview of organic, biodynamic, and other certification programs to help you understand what it all means.
Sustainability:Organic products
Organic products are a set of agricultural and food production standards that producers must meet in order to be certified organic. They aim to reduce environmental impact, promote biodiversity and ensure animal welfare.
Among the fundamental guidelines for organic agriculture and production, in the context of wine, are:
– No strict use of pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, or chemical fertilizers (out of about 300 pesticides allowed by EU legislation, only 20 are allowed by organic standards, all derived from natural ingredients).
– Exclusive use of natural fertilizers
– Strict prohibition of the use of GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) yeasts.
– The addition of sulfites is permitted (in the EU), but the total permitted levels are lower than for non-organic wines 100 mg/L for red wines (vs. 150 mg/L for conventional wines) and 150 mg/L for white and rosé wines (vs. 200 mg/L).
Organic practices must have been applied for at least three years before Sustainability certification is granted.
Organic certification is regulated by government agencies, although in many countries the certification process is outsourced to authorized external agencies. Even so, the requirements that must be met are those written into law, which means that a product classified as organic in a given country may not automatically receive the corresponding seal across the border. For example, in the U.S., unlike the EU regulations mentioned above, organic wine cannot have added sulfites; if sulfites are added, it can only bear the words “Made with organic grapes”.
Note that any wine can be produced with organic grapes but not itself be organic if the production standards in the winery do not follow the required guidelines.
Biodynamics
More than a set of agricultural practices, biodynamics is a philosophical approach to life, which is ultimately reflected in the work in the field and the winery. The principles of biodynamics are based on the theories outlined in 1924 by Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925), which defined a holistic and homeopathic approach to agriculture. His work arose in response to a petition from farmers observing the degradation of soil conditions and the deterioration of the health and quality of crops and livestock as a result, they believed, of the use of chemical fertilizers. But it is also imbued with a strong level of symbolic meaning, sometimes criticized for compromising the scientific validity of biodynamics, not least because of Steiner’s connections to German nationalism. As a result, many producers embrace the farming practices associated with biodynamics, recognizing its clear beneficial impact on soil and plant health, but remaining critical of some of its philosophical aspects.
The biodynamic calendar divides the days according to the elements and components of the plant (root, fruit, flower, leaf) as a guide for all tasks in the vineyard and winery.
Biodynamics is based on the belief that everything in the universe is interconnected through shared energetic forces that emit a universal resonance. All things, animate, inanimate, as well as celestial bodies (planets, comets, stars, meteors, etc.), are, according to biodynamic theories, constantly pulsating and influencing each other with these energies. Therefore, the farmer and winegrower must work with these universal energies, rather than against them, understanding their flow and natural cycles. Tasks in the vineyards and in the winery (planting, pruning, plowing, harvesting, fermenting and bottling) should be scheduled according to the biodynamic calendar to take advantage of the vital forces of the terrestrial and celestial cycles (namely planetary, solar, stellar and, above all, lunar).
From a purely technical perspective, biodynamics is stricter than organic. For example, while organic winemaking allows the use of cultured (non-GMO) yeasts, a biodynamic wine can only ferment with natural yeasts from the environment. Also, only vineyards are treated with specific homeopathic preparations.
Biodynamic certification is not regulated by the government. It is supervised and granted by private institutions, in particular Demeter International and Biodyvin (more details below).
Sustainability
Sustainability is a broad term that refers to awareness of the long-term impact of human activities on the planet. As such, organic and biodynamic agriculture use practices that have sustainability at their core, in the sense that they are concerned with minimizing the negative environmental impact of agriculture and food production, promoting soil health and ensuring animal welfare.
However, although they focus primarily on work in the vineyard and winery, with special attention to environmental consequences, there are broader aspects that they do not touch.
On the other hand, there are sustainability programs that take a broader view of how companies operate, looking not only at cultivation and production but also at the impact of the entire supply chain, energy consumption, and even social responsibility. For example, the International Wineries for Climate Action is a group of leading producers with a shared strategy to become carbon-neutral across the entire wine value chain.
There are different sustainability programs around the world that set strategic guidelines in all different facets of production and operations. Some are clearly focused on the environment (so they often overlap with governmental green certification), while others are more holistic and address, for example, corporate responsibility, long-term energy-saving goals, or carbon neutrality.
Most of these programs are regulated and/or recognized by the state and therefore certification is legally defined and can be listed on labels.
A word about natural wine
At this point, you may be wondering what natural wine is. Is it organic? Or biodynamic? It can be either or neither. “Natural wine” is not a legally or technically defined term and is used in different ways by different people, so it does not indicate any particular set of practices or requirements.
The so-called “natural wine movement” refers, broadly speaking, to a low-intervention style of winemaking popularized by different groups of producers, sommeliers and consumers. Some of these wines are certified organic and biodynamic, but not all, and not necessarily all. In general, “natural wines” are spontaneously fermented and bottled without refining or filtering (so they tend to have a cloudy appearance). However, many large-scale commercial and conventional producers have used the term “natural” on labels to try to position some of their ranges differently and appeal to a specific audience, without this being reflected in specific “low-intervention” winemaking.
On the other hand, many producers who follow organic and/or biodynamic practices may not be certified due to the complexity and cost of the certification process, making it even more difficult to really know what is inside the bottle.
Sustainability Certifications
An overview of sustainability certifications and the symbols you may find on the wine bottle/label:
EU organic certification.
Certification is granted by the European Union, through agencies or control bodies, under the same standards in all member states.
USDA organic certification
The US government’s organic certification standards. Unlike EU-certified organic wine, USDA-certified organic wine cannot have added sulfites. If it does, it must be labeled “Made from organic grapes” and sulfite levels must be kept below 100 mg/L.
Demeter International
The first biodynamic certification organization to be created. Certifies all practices and products, not just wine.
Biodyvin
A biodynamic certification body for European wineries only.
Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE)
Certification created by the French Ministry of Agriculture. It recognizes environmentally friendly agricultural approaches.
Terra Vitis
Terra Vitis certification is similar to HVE, but was created by a group of producers and industry associations and is independently regulated.
Respekt
Self-regulated Austrian association of Austrian, German, Hungarian, and Italian producers who follow biodynamic practices.
Don’t forget to contact us for more information!
Subscribe to our Newsletter to be informed about the healthiest wines!
Sustainability:Organic products
Organic products are a set of agricultural and food production standards that producers must meet in order to be certified organic. They aim to reduce environmental impact, promote biodiversity and ensure animal welfare.
Among the fundamental guidelines for organic agriculture and production, in the context of wine, are:
– No strict use of pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, or chemical fertilizers (out of about 300 pesticides allowed by EU legislation, only 20 are allowed by organic standards, all derived from natural ingredients).
– Exclusive use of natural fertilizers
– Strict prohibition of the use of GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) yeasts.
– The addition of sulfites is permitted (in the EU), but the total permitted levels are lower than for non-organic wines 100 mg/L for red wines (vs. 150 mg/L for conventional wines) and 150 mg/L for white and rosé wines (vs. 200 mg/L).
Organic practices must have been applied for at least three years before Sustainability certification is granted.
Organic certification is regulated by government agencies, although in many countries the certification process is outsourced to authorized external agencies. Even so, the requirements that must be met are those written into law, which means that a product classified as organic in a given country may not automatically receive the corresponding seal across the border. For example, in the U.S., unlike the EU regulations mentioned above, organic wine cannot have added sulfites; if sulfites are added, it can only bear the words “Made with organic grapes”.
Note that any wine can be produced with organic grapes but not itself be organic if the production standards in the winery do not follow the required guidelines.
Biodynamics
More than a set of agricultural practices, biodynamics is a philosophical approach to life, which is ultimately reflected in the work in the field and the winery. The principles of biodynamics are based on the theories outlined in 1924 by Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925), which defined a holistic and homeopathic approach to agriculture. His work arose in response to a petition from farmers observing the degradation of soil conditions and the deterioration of the health and quality of crops and livestock as a result, they believed, of the use of chemical fertilizers. But it is also imbued with a strong level of symbolic meaning, sometimes criticized for compromising the scientific validity of biodynamics, not least because of Steiner’s connections to German nationalism. As a result, many producers embrace the farming practices associated with biodynamics, recognizing its clear beneficial impact on soil and plant health, but remaining critical of some of its philosophical aspects.
The biodynamic calendar divides the days according to the elements and components of the plant (root, fruit, flower, leaf) as a guide for all tasks in the vineyard and winery.
Biodynamics is based on the belief that everything in the universe is interconnected through shared energetic forces that emit a universal resonance. All things, animate, inanimate, as well as celestial bodies (planets, comets, stars, meteors, etc.), are, according to biodynamic theories, constantly pulsating and influencing each other with these energies. Therefore, the farmer and winegrower must work with these universal energies, rather than against them, understanding their flow and natural cycles. Tasks in the vineyards and in the winery (planting, pruning, plowing, harvesting, fermenting and bottling) should be scheduled according to the biodynamic calendar to take advantage of the vital forces of the terrestrial and celestial cycles (namely planetary, solar, stellar and, above all, lunar).
From a purely technical perspective, biodynamics is stricter than organic. For example, while organic winemaking allows the use of cultured (non-GMO) yeasts, a biodynamic wine can only ferment with natural yeasts from the environment. Also, only vineyards are treated with specific homeopathic preparations.
Biodynamic certification is not regulated by the government. It is supervised and granted by private institutions, in particular Demeter International and Biodyvin (more details below).
Sustainability
Sustainability is a broad term that refers to awareness of the long-term impact of human activities on the planet. As such, organic and biodynamic agriculture use practices that have sustainability at their core, in the sense that they are concerned with minimizing the negative environmental impact of agriculture and food production, promoting soil health and ensuring animal welfare.
However, although they focus primarily on work in the vineyard and winery, with special attention to environmental consequences, there are broader aspects that they do not touch.
On the other hand, there are sustainability programs that take a broader view of how companies operate, looking not only at cultivation and production but also at the impact of the entire supply chain, energy consumption, and even social responsibility. For example, the International Wineries for Climate Action is a group of leading producers with a shared strategy to become carbon-neutral across the entire wine value chain.
There are different sustainability programs around the world that set strategic guidelines in all different facets of production and operations. Some are clearly focused on the environment (so they often overlap with governmental green certification), while others are more holistic and address, for example, corporate responsibility, long-term energy-saving goals, or carbon neutrality.
Most of these programs are regulated and/or recognized by the state and therefore certification is legally defined and can be listed on labels.
A word about natural wine
At this point, you may be wondering what natural wine is. Is it organic? Or biodynamic? It can be either or neither. “Natural wine” is not a legally or technically defined term and is used in different ways by different people, so it does not indicate any particular set of practices or requirements.
The so-called “natural wine movement” refers, broadly speaking, to a low-intervention style of winemaking popularized by different groups of producers, sommeliers and consumers. Some of these wines are certified organic and biodynamic, but not all, and not necessarily all. In general, “natural wines” are spontaneously fermented and bottled without refining or filtering (so they tend to have a cloudy appearance). However, many large-scale commercial and conventional producers have used the term “natural” on labels to try to position some of their ranges differently and appeal to a specific audience, without this being reflected in specific “low-intervention” winemaking.
On the other hand, many producers who follow organic and/or biodynamic practices may not be certified due to the complexity and cost of the certification process, making it even more difficult to really know what is inside the bottle.
Sustainability Certifications
An overview of sustainability certifications and the symbols you may find on the wine bottle/label:
EU organic certification.
Certification is granted by the European Union, through agencies or control bodies, under the same standards in all member states.
USDA organic certification
The US government’s organic certification standards. Unlike EU-certified organic wine, USDA-certified organic wine cannot have added sulfites. If it does, it must be labeled “Made from organic grapes” and sulfite levels must be kept below 100 mg/L.
Demeter International
The first biodynamic certification organization to be created. Certifies all practices and products, not just wine.
Biodyvin
A biodynamic certification body for European wineries only.
Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE)
Certification created by the French Ministry of Agriculture. It recognizes environmentally friendly agricultural approaches.
Terra Vitis
Terra Vitis certification is similar to HVE, but was created by a group of producers and industry associations and is independently regulated.
Respekt
Self-regulated Austrian association of Austrian, German, Hungarian, and Italian producers who follow biodynamic practices.
Don’t forget to contact us for more information!
Subscribe to our Newsletter to be informed about the healthiest wines!