Organic. Biodynamic. Sustainable. These days, it seems like most wines carry at least one of these terms or certifications. But what do they really mean when it comes to drinking your favorite glass of wine, and what is a certified sustainable wine?
To get to the root of all the confusion, we want to analyze what differentiates these certifications: the winemaking process. So, let’s break down each of the certifications and trace the journey of sustainable wines from grape to glass:
What is the difference between organic, sustainable, and biodynamic wines?
USDA organic certified wines boast that their wine contains NO synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals at any point in the winemaking process. When the grapes begin to grow in the vineyard, these agents are absent. As the grapes are grown, harvested and made into wine, the additives are also grown organically, without any genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and without sulfites, preservatives with antioxidant and antibacterial properties.
What’s the significance here for you? When you buy a bottle of USDA organic wine from your local store, you can be assured that your wine has 100% organically grown ingredients. Notwithstanding, the absence of sulfites, presently the best regular wine additive, implies that your natural wine has a more limited time span of usability. In addition, your organic wine will likely not age as well, which means it may lose the robust flavors that come with aging, as well as being subject to a fair amount of variability from bottle to bottle.
BIODYNAMIC WINE
Like organic wines, biodynamic wines contain no chemicals or additives throughout the winemaking process. As the grapes grow, they are free of any synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and chemicals. When the grapes are harvested and turned into wine, they are also free of any GMOs and sulfites. Biodynamic wines differ from organic or organic wines in that they take into account the entire ecosystem during the cultivation of the grapes. To be certified for either of the two biodynamic wine certifications-Demeter and Biodyvin-vineyards must maintain exceptional soil health and grape growers must match their planting schedules with lunar cycles to ensure the best agricultural health.
What’s the significance here for you? If you buy a biodynamically certified wine, you know that your wine has been made with 100% organic ingredients and that the entire ecosystem, from the soil to the moon, has been taken into account in the winemaking process. However, like organic wine, the absence of sulfites in biodynamic wine means a shorter shelf life and limited aging capacity.
SUSTAINABLE WINE
Sustainable wines aim to have a winemaking process that protects the environment, supports social responsibility, maintains economic viability and produces high quality wines. During cultivation, harvesting and winemaking, a number of environmental factors are prioritized. This includes everything from maintaining biodiversity in the vineyards to ensure soil health, to implementing recycling measures that conserve water while growing grapes, to utilizing renewable energy technologies, such as solar, while producing wine.
What’s the significance here for you? When you choose a bottle of wine marked with a sustainability certification, know that your wine has been made with the environment, social responsibility, economic viability and high quality in mind. Unless otherwise noted, sustainable wine is likely not made with 100% organic ingredients and may well contain some additives, such as sulfites, to ensure a longer shelf life and more intense flavors that come with aging.
What are the different types of sustainable wine certifications and what do they mean?
It can be easy to get caught up in the numerous sustainable wine certifications floating around, so to make it easier; we highlight the most important ones in the industry:
CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE
Introduced in 2010, Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing (CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE) is administered by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA), a leader in promoting sustainable viticulture practices within the California wine industry. CSWA is a non-profit organization created in 2003 by the Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers.
SIP
Sustainability in Practice (SIP) Certified is a rigorous certification of sustainable vineyards and wineries with strict, non-negotiable requirements, committed to science-based standards and expert input, independent verification, transparency and no conflicts of interest.
LIVE Certified
Low Input Viticulture & Enology (LIVE) supports environmentally and socially responsible viticulture through third-party certification and education. They have their roots in the Pacific Northwest and are internationally accredited.
Napa Green
Napa Green is a comprehensive sustainability certification program for Napa Valley vineyards and wineries. Soil-to-bottle management includes protecting and restoring the Napa River watershed, saving energy and water, reducing waste and carbon footprint, and being conscious employers and good neighbors.
Salmon-Safe
Salmon-Safe is one of the nation’s leading eco-labels, with more than 95,000 acres of certified agricultural and urban lands in Oregon, Washington, California, and British Columbia. Through its peer-reviewed certification and accreditation program, it implements agricultural and urban practices that protect water quality, maintain watershed health, and restore habitat.
Don’t forget to contact The Healthy Wine for more information