Organic Wines FAQs

What is organic wine?

Organic wine is any wine that is certified organic and legally approved as being so. For a wine to be classed as organic or biodynamic, it needs to meet certain criteria relating to how it is grown and the ingredients in the wine.

To be a certified organic wine, the wine must meet the following criteria:

• Both grape growing and winemaking are carried out to strict standards that are regulated by organic certifying bodies. Look for the symbols on the back labels.
• No synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or artificial fertilisers are allowed. This means that the soils and the wider environment are protected.
• Restrictions on total sulphur levels in wine, with organic wines having lower sulphur limits (browse our low/no sulphur wines here)
• A restricted use of a wide array of additives and treatments during wine production.

Keen to find out more? Read our Complete Guide to Organic Wine.

Do you sell non-organic wines?

Sadly, pesticides and other chemicals are a common feature of non-organic vine growing. Who wants to potentially ingest a cocktail of man-made toxins with their favourite tipple? The environmental impact of pesticides on our land and wildlife is now well documented, so here at Vintage Roots, we only sell certified organic and biodynamic wines. We would rather say ‘organic cheers’ than ‘what’s your poison?!’

What are the benefits of drinking organic wine?

Choosing to drink and eat organic can positively affect your health and well-being. For starters, you are exposing yourself to fewer sulphites and artificial chemicals and there’s a good chance you’ll get less sugar too. Finally, healthy organically farmed grapes are likely to have more anthocyanins and antioxidants.

Is all organic wine vegan?

In a word, no! A wine’s vegan or vegetarian credentials are determined by the products used during the fining process. The good news is that not all producers opt to fine their wines (choosing to let them clear and settle naturally) and those that do often use carbon, pea protein and clay-based fining agents. This means that there are many, many vegan friendly organic wines available. Well over 90% of our organic wines are vegan suitable.

Our recommended organic wines

Need some recommendations to get you started? Why not try Greenia Cabernet Sauvignon with no added sulphur. Or, another tasty organic choice is our trio of red, white and rosé for under £10 each: Bodegas Piqueras Garnacha Tintorera, Domaine de Pajot Les Quatre Cepages and Bohem Tempranillo Rosé.