Outstanding organic wines you need to try

When it comes to harmonious wine and food pairings, Organic September is the perfect time to set your sights on organic wines to complement those planet-friendly recipes.

Organic wine is made in much the same way as most wine, says Denyer, but it’s the practices in the vineyards that fundamentally make a wine organic.

Working in harmony with Mother Nature, organic farming is more labour intensive with timely decision making – and increased risk of losing fruit with lower yields if the weather isn’t on your side, suggests Denver.

As Denyer points out, France is the leading country in Europe for organic wine production, with around 20% of vineyards farmed organically.

“It’s generally easier to farm organically in warmer, dryer parts of the world but many producers with more difficult conditions are also having success, such as Louis Roederer Champagne,” highlights Denyer. “Where half of their vineyards in the region have recently been certified as organic.”

And so to the million dollar question: Does biodiversity in these prized vineyards bolster the taste?

“There’s no question organic wines are better,” says Manfred Ing, winemaker for Querciabella, one of the leading organic, biodynamic and vegan estates in Chianti Classico, Italy.

However, just because a wine is organic, he says it doesn’t necessarily make it healthier or prevent hangovers.

“That being said, a clear conscience does make the softest pillow,” says Ing. “So, choosing wines that are kinder to the environment and, in our case, cruelty-free might serve the mind to feel peace.”